Amit Shah to hold talks with TN allies; meeting with Rajinikanth likely

Shah will arrive in Chennai on Saturday

Union Home Minister Amit Shah | PTI Union Home Minister Amit Shah | PTI

With assembly elections round the corner, the political parties in Tamil Nadu seem to have got into poll mode. On Friday, the political temperature in the state began heating up—the BJP was getting ready to welcome its strongman and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who will arrive in Chennai on Saturday, while the BJP’s friendly ally AIADMK convened a crucial meeting to discuss strategies for the elections at its party office, and the opposition DMK launched its election campaign.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his men will call on Shah on Saturday to discuss their alliance and other political developments in the state.  Shah will also lay foundation stones for a slew of government projects and will meet with the BJP’s state office bearers.

Shah’s visit, apparently, is all set to throw light on his party’s plans for alliance in the polls due in April 2021. The BJP which is trying hard to find foot in the Dravidian land is expected to strategise for the polls after Shah’s visit. Incidentally, the recent Vel Yatra, though opposed by the state government, had brought the much required attention for the BJP in the state. Sources say alliance party leaders like G.K. Vasan, PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss and his Rajya Sabha MP son Dr Anbumani Ramadoss will meet the home minister. The leaders, sources confirm, have been invited to meet with the home minister and to hear him on his plans for the Tamil Nadu elections. The BJP, which has less than three per cent votes in the state, has been on a recruitment spree for the past few months.

By roping in stars like Khushbu and DMK’s V.P. Duraiswamy and MLA Ku Ka Selvam, the BJP has come a long way winning the perception war against the DMK in the state. On Saturday, K.P. Ramalingam, a former DMK Rajya Sabha MP, who was expelled recently from party’s primary membership, is likely to meet Shah. Sources say Ramalingam will take messages from former DMK minister M.K. Alagiri and also messages from the home minister back to Alagiri. While Alagiri, the expelled DMK leader and elder brother of DMK president M.K. Stalin, has clarified that he will not be meeting Amit Shah or joining the BJP, he is likely to play a crucial role to embarrass the DMK. Sources say that Alagiri could be made to act as a magnet to bring in all the disgruntled elements from the DMK and embarrass its leadership.

Sources also say that superstar Rajinikanth might have a meeting with the home minister. However, they say, this meeting will only expose the weakness of the BJP as it still needs a face in the state to face the polls. However, unconfirmed reports say that the BJP is much comfortable with its ally AIADMK and may not afford to break the alliance.

While having its ally AIADMK by its side, the BJP has always ensured that it takes on the DMK, making it visible among the people of the state. However, at the grassroot level the national party with its language and education policies is yet to make its presence. 

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