Shah, EPS Discuss TN's Turbulent Politics: Alliance Talks on Hold

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah met AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the ongoing political situation in Tamil Nadu. The central topic of their conversation was the state's political scenario, not alliance-related matters. Palaniswami clarified that they did not discuss seat-sharing with Shah, contrary to media speculation. Senior leaders, however, claimed that the BJP is still in talks with expelled leaders, including O Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran, and V K Sasikala, to join their alliance. The meeting comes after Palaniswami finalized the terms of Pattali Makkal Katchi's (PMK) alliance with the NDA on Wednesday. Palaniswami hit back at Chief Minister MK Stalin, who claimed that the AIADMK is paving the way for a BJP government in the state. Palaniswami countered that the AIADMK leads the alliance in the state. The AIADMK's latest stint in the NDA has been marked by disagreements over seat sharing. Palaniswami has repeatedly asserted that his party will form a majority government if they win, a claim contradicted by Shah. According to sources, Shah has demanded a share in power and for the BJP to be part of the cabinet. The BJP plans to contest in more assembly seats, with a 11% vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The AIADMK, however, maintains its demand to contest 179 out of 234 assembly seats, the same number as in the last assembly elections in 2021. Some senior leaders believe that agreeing to a coalition government would put the DMK at an advantage, given the historical lack of support for such governments in the state. The Dravidian majors, DMK and AIADMK, have traditionally resisted coalition governments in Tamil Nadu, despite being part of them at the national level. The 2006 assembly elections saw DMK chief M Karunanidhi form a minority government with outside support from parties like the Congress and Left parties.