EPS meets party election panel to finalise alliance

CHENNAI: After completing the first round of talks with minor partners and potential allies, the seat-sharing committee of the AIADMK called on Edappadi K Palaniswami at the latter’s official residence in Greenways Road.

Deputy general secretary and former minister KP Munusamy along with fellow members of the seat-sharing panel — SP Velumani, P Thangamani, and P Benjamin — reached Palaniswami’s residence around 11 am. Former Minister and Rajya Sabha member C Ve Shanmugam also joined the meeting, which continued till around 3 pm.

Since the leaders of the DMDK, Puratchi Bharatham, Puthiya Thamizhagam, Social Democratic Party of India, and All India Forward Bloc have affirmed their alliance with the AIADMK for the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK major has now turned its attention towards the PMK.

Shanmugam had called on the founder and leader of PMK Dr S Ramadoss at Thailapuram farmhouse a few times in February, but the discreet meetings did not fetch the desired result to date. Amidst the meetings between Shanmugam and senior Ramadoss, reliable information percolated from PMK that Anbumani Ramadoss was keen on going with the BJP. However, the developments in the last few days indicated that the PMK would join hands with the AIADMK.

“Shanmugam’s presence in the meeting gives an impression that our party is considering PMK as a key constituent of the alliance. He is in constant touch with PMK leader (Senior Ramadoss) and we are hoping that the alliance will be finalised by the end of this week,” said a senior leader who was privy to the meeting.

Later in the day, the leader of Tamil Maanila Muslim League Sheikh Dawood called on Palaniswami to extend the party’s support to the AIADMK front in the Parliamentary elections. It was the second Muslim outfit to extend support to the AIADMK party after SDPI.

“We sought a seat in the AIADMK front,” said Dawood after he met with Palaniswami.

Interview for aspirants: The AIADMK leadership on Thursday invited the aspirants, who submitted application forms and expressed willingness to contest in the LS polls, for an interview at the party headquarters on Sunday and Monday. The interview would be held for all 40 constituencies in two days. They have insisted on bringing the receipt copy of their application forms.