While the BJP is learnt to have sought allotment of seats in “double digits” in the proposed grand alliance comprising the AIADMK, PMK and DMDK among others, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu has made it clear that it would like to field candidates in not less than 25 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats (including the one in Puducherry).
Following the midnight negotiations between an AIADMK delegation led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the BJP team led by its Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal in Chennai, a top leader of the ruling party told The Hindu that the AIADMK was willing to concede only 15 seats to its potential allies. The AIADMK wants to assert itself as a dominant partner, contesting in at least 25 constituencies.
“Anything below this figure would not be befitting to our party’s stature,” said the top leader, who is privy of the negotiations.
By Monday, there will be a clear picture on the composition of the alliance and seat-sharing.
Talks in progress
Earlier in the day AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan separately told journalists that a deal would be finalised in one or two days. “The talks are progressing in the right direction,” said Ms Tamilisai.
It is learnt that some of the potential allies, anticipating simultaneous byelections to 20 Assembly constituencies, have pitched for apportionment of those seats as part of the alliance “package”.
Apart from the BJP, PMK and DMDK, the proposed alliance may consist of the Puthiya Tamizhagam, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and Indhia Jananayaka Katchi (IJK).
If the AIADMK is able to push through its proposal, the remaining 15 seats including Puducherry may have to be apportioned among other parties with the BJP taking the lion’s share. As per one scheme, the PMK may get four and the DMDK three seats. The BJP may allot a couple of its seats to minor parties on the condition that their candidates must contest on its ‘lotus’ symbol.
PMK ‘talking’ to DMK
Even though there are reports of the PMK talking to the DMK camp too, the senior leader of the ruling party termed them as “normal” at the time of elections and expressed the confidence that the PMK would eventually join the AIADMK camp.
Sources said the BJP and the AIADMK appear to be interested in finalising the deal by Tuesday, which is a full moon day in the Tamil month of “Masi,” considered to be very auspicious.