Tamil Nadu shocker! AIADMK confirms merger, joining NDA soon
- AIADMK will join NDA as early as this week
- In exchange, the Union government is set to hand three Cabinet berths to the AIADMK
- E Palaniswami is likely to remain the chief minister, while O Panneerselvam may be elevated to a Rajya Sabha berth. Sasikala will remain the general secretary of the party
FollowAIADMK may see a grand alliance of its own. According to latest reports the ruling EPS faction and the rebel OPS faction, will be joining the NDA's fold, possibly as early as this week. In exchange, the Union government is set to hand three Cabinet berths to the AIADMK.
The AIADMK's joining India's ruling alliance will have the effect of giving the central government more clout in the Rajya Sabha.
According to sources, E Palaniswami is likely to remain the chief minister, while O Panneerselvam may be elevated to a Rajya Sabha berth. Sasikala will remain the general secretary of the party.
However, TTV Dinakaran, whose role hasn't been confirmed said, "I don't think the merger will happen. But at the same time, I will welcome if it happens."
D Jayakumar, tamil Nadu's finance Minister said, "If we work together it will be beneficial for the people. The Centre has taken several initiatives. We have even asked for Rs 17,000 crore of aid from the Centre."
The Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to make in-roads in Tamil Nadu politics for a long time. They had already started the process when they supported the ruling party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) against Kamal Haasan when he accused the state government of corruption.
BJP offered to mediate between the two factions of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and were hopeful that the AIADMK will join the NDA soon.
This move will not only lend stability to the state government, it will also stop BJP’s political rivals from taking advantage of the fluid situation in the state.
H Raja, a senior TN state BJP leader entrusted with translating senior BJP leaders' speeches in Hindi into Tamil had told that “merger between the two AIADMK factions could happen very soon.”
The AIADMK is divided into three factions, with the two main factions being led by Chief Minister E Palaniswami and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The third group is led by Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran.
A senior leader in the O Panneerselvam camp had earlier said that before a merger can take place, the factions must keep away Sasikala and Dinakaran. This was also the condition laid down by O Panneerselvam.
“The party is keen that the legacy of the late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa is protected and for that it is important that both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam come together and end their differences. BJP will again play the role of a mediator or facilitator but leaders of AIADMK have to take the final decision,” said a senior BJP leader who is part of the BJP’s plan in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP sensed an opportunity after both AIADMK factions buried their differences to back the choice of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for President and vice-president. The BJP is now exploring the option of a formal alliance; greater clarity will emerge once the schedule for local elections is declared.
