EPS meets Amit Shah in Delhi

New Delhi/Chennai, March 3: Edappadi K. Palaniswami, General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday to discuss seat-sharing arrangements within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Palaniswami left for Delhi earlier in the day on what party sources described as a sudden but significant visit, widely seen as a crucial step towards finalising the alliance framework. The meeting focused primarily on the number of constituencies to be allocated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the proposed agreement.
The high-level talks come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Madurai and follow a consultative meeting of NDA leaders. According to sources, detailed discussions were held on seat distribution among alliance partners and on the specific constituencies proposed by the AIADMK for the BJP.
However, sources indicated that the BJP has not fully agreed with the number of seats proposed by the AIADMK. While the AIADMK is understood to be cautious about increasing the overall seat allocation, it is said to favour offering the BJP constituencies considered electorally winnable rather than expanding the total tally.
The AIADMK is reportedly keen on allocating a significant number of seats to the BJP in western and southern districts of Tamil Nadu, regions where the BJP currently has representation. The BJP has four MLAs in the State, all elected from constituencies in these areas. In addition, the AIADMK is said to be open to allotting two to three constituencies in Chennai to its ally.
An official agreement between the NDA partners is expected to be formally signed in the coming days, following the outcome of the Palaniswami–Shah discussions, which are being closely watched as a key development in shaping the alliance’s electoral strategy for the 2026 Assembly polls.