Tamil Nadu polls: T T V Dhinakaran, Anbumani Ramadoss in Delhi for seat talks; EPS says deal in 4 days

CHENNAI: AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss left for Delhi on Friday to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and firm up seat-sharing in the AIADMK-led NDA for the April 23 Tamil Nadu polls.

Anbumani flew out of Chennai around 8 am, while Dhinakaran followed two hours later. The meetings with Shah are likely later in the day, close on the heels of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s late-night meeting with the BJP leader on Thursday.




Palaniswami returned to Chennai on an early morning flight. Defending his solo trip, he said Shah was busy with elections in four other states and that he met him again to discuss TN’s political situation. “Everything will be finalised within four days. Unlike in DMK alliance, it will be done smoothly and the main aims to ensure everying gets winnable seats,” he said, referring to seat-sharing among alliance partners. He also said BJP’s Tamil Nadu in-charge Piyush Goyal will visit the state on Saturday.

He, however, refrained from confirming any numbers amid speculation that the AIADMK may contest 165 seats, the BJP 31, AMMK 9, and the PMK 17 or 18, with other allies likely to get between one and three seats.

EPS categorically ruled out any talks with actor Vijay’s TVK for alliance. “AIADMK leads the alliance. No leader from our front has spoken to TVK, nor have they approached us,” he said, responding to claims by TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna that the party was offered 90 seats and a 2.5-year chief ministership.

On Anbumani and Dhinakaran’s Delhi visit, he said they would brief Shah on the political situation in TN.

Before boarding his flight, Dhinakaran told reporters at Chennai airport that he received the invitation four days ago. He reiterated that AMMK remains part of the NDA, led by the BJP nationally and by Palaniswami in Tamil Nadu, and asserted that his party will contest on the ‘Cooker’ symbol.

“I am going to meet Amit Shah, a key leader of the NDA,” he said, countering Chief Minister M K Stalin’s criticism of AIADMK allies travelling to Delhi to seat-sharing talks. Dhinakaran said the ruling DMK was “worried” about their visit. He refuted CM’s pitch “Delhi team Vs TN” and framed the contest as “NDA, led by the AIADMK, versus the DMK front.” He added that the alliance would bring about a change in regime, reflecting the people’s mood in the state./eom/shan/