Chennai: After a break, alliance activities for the Lok Sabha elections reached a high in Tamilnadu today, with the ruling AIADMK and the main Opposition, the DMK, speeding up talks and seat-sharing agreements with partners.
A News Today report got this right yesterday itself, stating that the discussions and deals, halted due to India-Pakistan tension and DMDK’s indecisiveness, would get a reboot at the earliest.
On behalf of the AIADMK, the party’s coordinator and Tamilnadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today inked a pact with Puthiya Tamizhagam chief, Dr Krishnaswamy, allotting one seat to his party.
Speaking to the media, Panneerselvam said one constituency has been allotted to Puthiya Tamizhagm, which would support AIADMK’s candidates in the by-election to be held to the 21 Assembly constituencies. The AIADMK got similar assurances from the PMK and BJP already, after giving seven and five seats to those parties.
Even as DMDK president Vijayakanth continued discussions with party office-bearers for the second consecutive day today, Panneerselvam expressed hope that the actor-politician’s party would join the AIADMK-led alliance soon.
Sources state that the deal between the AIADMK and DMDK would be signed on or before 6 March, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a rally in Chennai.
IJK STAND
Parivendhar’s IJK, which was expected to get a seat in the AIADMK camp, today extended support to the DMK. The party’s leaders called on DMK president M K Stalin at Anna Arivalayam and offered shawls.
Speaking to mediapersons, Parivendhar said Tamilnadu needs a change and only Stalin can bring it.
The DMK continued seat-sharing talks with its partners – Vaiko’s MDMK, Thol Thirumavalavan’s VCK, CPI and CPI(M), and the deals are likely to be signed before the middle of next week.
RAHUL IN TOWN
Campaigning, too, is set to get a boost, with Tamilnadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri today saying that party president Rahul Gandhi would start electioneering in Tamilnadu 13 March.