CHENNAI: Even as BJP leaders sought to bolster their demand for power-sharing after the Election of the assembly of Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK stood firm in its position that if the party won, it would lead the government. AIADMK leaders were of the opinion that the political stance of the allies would fade once the talks on sharing seats began.
Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK contested all 234 seats on two sheets in 2016 and recorded a historic consecutive victory after three decades. The leaders said that sharing power was never on the state policy agenda for decades and that AIADMK would always strive to form a government on its own. Chief Minister D Jayakumar said that a coalition established in Tamil Nadu was unthinkable.
“It will never happen. We will compete with the allies, win the majority of seats and form a government on our own. The AIADMK will continue the legacy of MGR and Amma,” said the minister, pointing to strong and decisive mandates in the past. The ruling camp is interested in reaching an electoral agreement with friendly partners to defeat the DMK, a common agenda of the NDA allies who came together in the LS polls of May 2019.
The BJP has been far from subtle when it comes to sharing their views on shared power across public platforms. For his part, the Prime Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam declared that the alliance with the BJP would continue also for the election of the assembly. To the surprise of their own party members and allies, the OPS party coordinator and the joint EPS coordinator made the announcement in the presence of the Union Minister of the Interior and BJP leader. Amit shah, who was in Chennai over the weekend, thus ahead of any move by the national party to partner with actor Rajinikant, party leaders note.
Palaniswami’s confidants say the CM is hoping to return to power with the support of the BJP. Panneerselvam hailed Amit Shah as “a master strategist and a modern Chanakya.” Senior leader and former minister S Semmalai noted that EPS had made it clear in Shah’s presence that the alliance would win the majority of seats and that it would be a solo sample for the post-AIADMK elections.
Director Dravidian festivals they have won successively in major alliances since 1967 but have never shared power with allies. In 1980, the DMK contested 117 seats and assigned an equal number to Congress. But the patriarch of DMK M Karunanidhi was projected as the candidate of CM. Political analyst Tharasu Shya said the Dravidian parties were reluctant to share power. “Simply, because the parties are not prepared to have checks and balances in governance,” he said, noting how Karunanidhi led the first minority government in 2006-2011.
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