The political skyline of Tamil Nadu is getting ready for the battle of ballots which may happen anytime in the months of April or May. Tuesday marks the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai which ushers in the season of harvesting, Pongal festivities and rural sporting events. Thai is rated as the most auspicious month and even rationalist Dravidian politicians go by the proverb “Thai Piranthal Vazhi Pirakkum” (Tamil for Thai will show the way).
O Panneerselvam, Deputy CM, who also heads the coordination committee of the AIADMK, gave enough hints on Monday about the developments that are going to take place in Tamil Nadu politics in the coming days. Speaking to reporters at Madurai where he has come to inaugurate the traditional rural sport of Jallikkattu (bull taming), Panneerselvam said his party would forge a mega alliance with like-minded parties to face the upcoming Lok Sabha election. He did not disclose the names of the parties which would be the constituents of the mega alliance.
This was followed by a disclosure by Tamilisai Sounderarajan, president, State BJP, who said that union minister for power Piyush Goyal would reach Chennai on January 18 for discussions with various friendly parties as part of the BJP’s attempt to finalise a winnable alliance for the parliament election. “There are many political parties in Tamil Nadu which have expressed their desire to join hands with the BJP,” said Sounderarajan. She did not disclose the names of the parties.
But sources in Tamil Nadu BJP told The Pioneer that Goyal would definitely meet leaders of the AIADMK, PMK, Puthiya Tamizhagam led by Dr Krishnasamy and the DMDK of Vijayakant. “Goyal has fine rapport with AIADMK leaders as he was interacting with them on a one-to-one basis to sort out the issues faced by Tamil Nadu, whether it be making available coal for the thermal power stations in the State and to address the shortfall in power,” said the BJP leader.
Tamil Nadu minister for power P Thangamani has complimented the Centre for speeding up the national power grid which made it easy for the State to purchase surplus power from north Indian States.
Though the leadership of PMK was tight-lipped about the coalition talks being held with like- minded parties, Sounderarajan said Goyal, who is in charge of Tamil Nadu BJP would meet leader of the PMK and the DMDK. “They were our alliance partners in the 2014 election and we continue to be friends,” she said. On their part, senior PMK leaders said party founder S Ramadoss was the only person to decide on alliance formation. “We have an open mind and would like to form partnership with parties which are friendly towards Tamil Nadu and those which stand for social justice,” said a senior PMK leader. The leader said he was upset that it was being portrayed as a Vanniyar outfit. “Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is the best chief ministerial candidate in Tamil Nadu. But Tamil Nadu media and other parties are blacking him out,” said a close confidante of Ramadoss. He said by January 18, a picture will evolve about who is with whom in the State.
Another likely outfit to figure in the AIADMK front could be Tamil Manila Congress led by G K Vasan. “We have nothing against the AIADMK with which the TMC had ties. The 2001 assembly election saw the AIADMK-TMC alliance romping home. But the news that the BJP may find place in the front is something ticklish to us, all former Congressmen,” said B S Gnanadesikan, former TNCC president and two-term Rajya Sabha member.