EPS to meet PM Modi on Jan 18, alliance talks for TN polls likely

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (January 18) in New Delhi to invite him for the unveiling of Jayalalitha Memorial in Chennai, during which BJP-AIADMK alliance talks for state elections is also expected.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of the emerging alliance between BJP and AIADMK ahead of the state assembly elections due later this year. The seat sharing talks are likely to be initiated during the meeting.

BJP chief JP Nadda will visit Chennai for six hours on the occasion of Pongal on January 14  for Thuglak function and Tamil Nadu BJP’s core committee meeting.

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BJP leaders are keen on an united AIADMK and efforts are on to bring splinter groups like TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK together to strengthen the anti-DMK front. Dhinkaran is already in Delhi and is reportedly holding talks in this regard.

BJP’s National General Secretary CT Ravi, who is in charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, on Monday said that the AIADMK will decide the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate as they are the major partner in the alliance.

The AIADMK’s general council unanimously passed a resolution on Saturday endorsing Palaniswami as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections.

Further clarity on Tamil Nadu politics will emerge by first week of February, according to top BJP leadership.