Tamil Nadu assembly elections are anticipated to take spot in March-April this year.
Tamil Nadu Election 2021: Talks of a probable merger of the Dhinakaran-led AMMK into AIADMK have when once again taken centre stage with the release of Sasikala just a week away. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is in Delhi to officially invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the newly-constructed Jayalalithaa Memorial in Chennai. However, reports recommend that the chief minister is anticipated to go over the merger with the BJP, which is portion of the alliance in the state.
The Indian Express, citing sources, reports that Palaniswami in his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah is anticipated to go over the political scenarios evolving in the state. A BJP leader told the national every day that the election seat-sharing, alliance strengthening have been pending for discussion and Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran had also expressed his willingness to join the AIADMK. “…our leadership had a view that we should consider all possible options to make the alliance stronger,” the leader stated.
Founded in 2018, the AMMK is becoming headed by Dhinakaran. The BJP and AIADMK want Dhinakaran to either merge or ally with the ruling alliance to get some minority votes in the state. An AIADMK minister stated that the ruling alliance requires to strengthen its secular front. He additional stated that obtaining BJP in the alliance implies they will drop minority votes but having Dhinakaran on board will bring back a sizable chunk of minority votes. In the 2019 election, Dhinakaran had secured 4 per cent of minority votes which is equal to 15 per cent of AIADMK’s Muslim votes.
Discussing developments so far, a ruling party minister stated that Dhinakaran did not straight strategy AIADMK but talks have been taking place by means of BJP. He stated that it could be either the Sasikala faction joining AIADMK with important posts or their AMMK joining the alliance. Dhinakaran, as per the report, has asked for 30 seats in case of alliance with AIADMK and BJP. And if each ousted leaders – Dhinakaran and Sasikala – are taken back, then their demand is for essential party posts. After serving a 4-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case, Sasikala is anticipated to be released from prison later this month.
This is the second time such talks are taking place at the highest level with the BJP in Delhi. Last year in September, Dhinakaran had met the best BJP leaders and it was reported that the AMMK chief had been promised ‘earliest release’ of Sasikala if the talks have been fruitful. Dhinakaran, as per reports then, had demanded that his aunt Sasikala be created the common secretary and he be offered a essential post. It was also believed that Palaniswami and Paneerselvam could continue as CM and Deputy CM when party affairs could be passed on to Sasikala. A senior AIADMK minister had then stated that the proposed division of powers would be agreeable to most party members, and that the BJP leadership had been pressing for a merger for more than a year now.
Tamil Nadu assembly elections are anticipated to take spot in March-April this year.