PMK emissary calls on EPS; leaders likely to meet today
CHENNAI: After days of discreet negotiations, the seat-sharing talks between the AIADMK and elusive potential ally PMK have risen to the next level, with the latter deputing an MLA to meet AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in person, on Sunday.
Sources said Palaniswami is likely to meet PMK founder S Ramadoss at his Thailapuram residence on Monday to hold talks on fighting the Lok Sabha polls together.
“There is a high possibility that the two leaders meeting at Thailapuram. We are hoping that the differences between the two parties will be sorted out and the alliance will be finalised by tomorrow,” said a senior AIADMK leader, who was privy to the meeting between PMK Salem district secretary and Salem West MLA Arul Ramadas of the PMK and Palaniswami.
Arul reportedly met the AIADMK leader to convey a message from Ramadoss. Though senior PMK leaders tried to downplay the meeting, it gained significance after information percolated from the leadership’s inner circle that they would revive their electoral ties with the Dravidian major for the April 19 general elections.
“There is a possibility of finalising the alliance on Monday or Tuesday. The developments clearly indicate that we will go with the AIADMK,” said another functionary. He also confirmed the meeting between senior leader GK Mani and senior Ramadoss at Thailapuram for nearly an hour in the morning. Mani left before Anbumani Ramadoss reached there to meet his father. It may be recalled that Rajya Sabha member and senior AIADMK leader CVe Shanmugam met Ramadoss twice regarding the alliance.
These moves came after the BJP tried to woo the Vanniyar party for several days. The PMK and DMDK have emerged as two sought-after allies for both AIADMK and BJP, who are desperately trying to shore up strength to face the State-ruling DMK and its INDIA bloc allies.