The process of forming an electoral alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha poll began in right earnest late Thursday evening. Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal who is in charge of the Lok Sabha election for Tamil Nadu reached Chennai late Thursday evening and drove down to the residence of late industrialist from south-west Tamil Nadu and had a discussion with the AIADMK representatives — P Thangamani (Power Minister) and SP Velumani (local administration minister).

This is the first official meeting between the AIADMK and the BJP though backroom discussions were on for quite some time about the poll alliance, according to sources in both the parties. “We do not see any reason why there should not be any alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP. A formal announcement about the alliance would be made soon,” said Narayanan Thiruppathi, spokesman of the BJP.

Another BJP leader told The Pioneer that discussions were  on with leaders of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the DMDK (led by film actor Vijayakanth) and Dr Krishnasamy’s Puthiya Tamilakam. “There is a possibility that Tamil

Manila Congress led by GK Vasan too would join the AIADMK-BJP alliance  though it may take some more time for an announcement,” said the BJP leader.

Since Stalin is not enthusiastic in including the TMC in his front, Vasan is left with only two options, either to pitch his tent in the AIADMK-BJP front or to sail with TTV  Dhinakaran’s  AMMK. But Anbazhagan, political commentator who is  close confidante of Dhinakaran said  Vasan would  not join  the BJP alliance and would  join hands with the AMMK.

Goyal returned to New Delhi early Friday morning and is expected back in Chennai for further talks sometime next week.  Meanwhile, the DMK –led front has started its campaign for the election buoyed by the opinion poll results by some of the leading private agencies which forecast a total sweep in Tamil Nadu by the DMK.

Though Stalin has not announced the constituents of the rainbow alliance, it is certain that the Congress, the Islamist parties,  the  Lefts, the VCK  and the MDMK led by Vaiko would figure in the DMK-led front.

“In paper, the DMK front may look formidable but one cannot totally rule out the AIADMK.  It  has  nearly 28 per cent  of vote share in Tamil Nadu,” said T Ramakrishnan, political commentator and author.

The Edappadi Palaniswamy government  has launched a  massive publicity drive as part of its third anniversary. All newspapers in the State had carried two full-page advertisement issued by thTamil Nadu government listing the achievements made by the Edappadi Palaniswamy government during the last two years.  But if the rush for application for contesting the Lok sabha polls under the AIADMK symbol is any indication, the party launched by MGR and strengthened by Jayalalithaa is in for disappointment. “We have received 1740 applications from prospective candidates who paid Rs 25,000 each. But this is 60 per cent less than what we received in 2014,” said O Panneerselvam,. Deputy chief minister. This means that there is a dip in the popularity enjoyed by the party compared to its 2014 performance when it swept 37 of the 39 seats from the State.