As AIADMK face an existential crisis, the solo trip undertaken by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to Delhi has raised eyebrows. EPS left for Delhi on Tuesday morning, though there are rumours that two senior leaders might join him in Delhi.
The official version of the visit is that EPS is in Delhi to visit the AIADMK party office that was recently inaugurated. The party building, constructed for Rs 10 crore, was inaugurated by EPS via video conferencing from Chennai. He will also meet senior lawyers regarding the pending case before the Election Commission.
However, sources say his agenda is also to talk with leaders of major political parties in Delhi, including the BJP. While talks about the alliance gain strength, EPS may also explain to senior BJP leaders in Delhi the impact of the three-language policy and constituency realignment.
The chatter in the political circles is that EPS may want to meet BJP leaders first, since Chief Minister M K Stalin informed in the Assembly on Monday that he would personally present the Joint Action Committee resolution on constituency reorganisation to Prime Minister Modi and speak to him. EPS, apparently, wants to explain the seriousness of the situation to the BJP leadership before Stalin's visit
Political observers say this is the first step towards alliance talks since Palaniswami is moving away from his earlier stance of opposing an alliance with the BJP for the 2026 Assembly elections. The AIADMK was forced to change its stand due to the changed political scenario in Tamil Nadu, especially with actor Vijay launching his own party - Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The BJP too is wary that without the backing of AIADMK, it may draw a blank in the upcoming Assembly elections, just like in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
