Chennai: Extending their New Delhi sojourn by another day, the AIADMK top brass met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, perhaps as a follow up to their rendezvous with prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday and also to press for their demands.
When AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami and a host of other leaders landed in New Delhi, it triggered speculations on the purpose of their meeting with Modi with some opposition leaders back home even ridiculing them for taking guidance from BJP.
The rumour was that the AIADMK leaders wanted the union government to put pressure on the DMK government to not crack down on them and to quell V K Sasikala, who is now raring to storm the party citadel by mobilizing cadre who are faithful to her.
Though the AIADMK leaders publicly stated that they called on the Prime Minister to press for five specific demands that relate to common issues of the State, it was widely believed that their agenda was different. By staying back and meeting Amit Shah, they gave more credence to the speculation.
Since it is widely believed that it is the Union Home Ministry that could put pressure on the DMK leaders or V K Sasikala through threats of raids by enforcement agencies. The meeting with Amit Shah is seen as a significant proof to establish the veracity of the rumours.
Some sources said the BJP, too, had its own agenda in meeting the AIADMK leaders. The Union Government is keen on moving a legislation to go for a ‘one nation, one election’ format, under which Parliament and state assemblies all over the country will be held at the same time, and that the BJP leaders sought the support of the AIADMK for that move.
In other words, when Lok Sabha polls are held in 2024 all states would also have Assembly elections. That means states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal that have just elected in their respective assemblies would not be allowed to complete their terms till 2026.
Whether the BJP manages to pull it off or not, it will have to face elections in 2024 and hence wants to firm up an alliance with the AIADMK, which incidentally will facilitate four of its nominees to enter the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
In the parleys with the AIADMK’s visiting delegation, the BJP leaders are said to have ensured that the AIADMK would stand by them in the 2024 elections and also urged them to prepare themselves for the 2024 electoral outing. Thus the AIADMK leaders’ New Delhi sojourn is a victory for both the parties.
Back from the successful New Delhi trip, the AIADMK leaders are all set to join the state-wide protest called by them on Wednesday to demand the implementation of the election promises made by the DMK in the hustings.
