Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he expands his cabinet in September has no plans of including members from AIADMK unless the warring factions unite.
Since Jayalalithaa's death, EPS and OPS - the two top leaders of the AIADMK factions - have made a dozen trip to New Delhi.
While the ruling BJP is keen on taking the AIADMK into NDA, the ruling party from Tamil Nadu is a house divided without its "Two Leaves" symbol.
For BJP, an alliance with AIADMK is important as it wants to contest both Panchayat elections in Tamil Nadu and also the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 as a united front.
Insiders have confirmed that even PM Modi in his discussions with O Pannerselvam emphasised on three points -
1) The two factions should merge,
2) Push DMK to Congress side and let them not pose a challenge to AIADMK
3) AIADMK should distance itself from "Mannargudi Mafia."
Will Sharad Yadav lose his RS membership?
A string of interesting developments is taking place not only in JDU but also in BJP. Sharad Yadav might soon be qualified as a member of Rajya Sabha. This development has kept Patna tense while Delhi has been on the boil. But the question is, who will decide on this disqualification? The ball seems to rest with M Venkaiah Naidu the Chairman of
Rajya Sabha, but for this first a complaint has to be lodged with him against Sharad Yadav. Word has it that legal teams from Nitish Kumar and Amit Shah side are working on it. But the final call on this will be taken by Nitish Kumar and he wants it to be over before the August end.
Finding Mr Right
Modi Government may have to fill in three constitutional positions - Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, and one vacancy in Election Commission. Informal exercises have since begun. Prime Minister had discussed this with his three senior Union Ministers.
A lakshmanrekha has since been drawn that the appointees will be of the age between 60 and 65 for Finance Commission.
Few names that of NK Singh and Ashok Lavasa are already doing the rounds, but Prime Minister wants a person with solid economic and fiscal background. But NK Singh is above 65. Then the choice is reduced to two or three former Finance Secretaries.
Will Prime Minister spring a surprise by bringing a foreign University Professor or Chancellor? The anticipation is high in the North Block and much is expected by
early September.
R Rajagopalan is a senior correspondent in New Delhi. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect those of Asianet Newsable
