INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
inaugurate the Jayalalithaa memorial and to discuss development plans for the State, led to tongues wagging in the political circles back
home.The political grapevine had it that Palaniswami has gone to explain to the Prime Ministers and other leaders of the BJP the
to Delhi by a chartered flight only added fuel to the rumours, though Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, who accompanied the Chief Minister,
told the media rather categorically that the visit was to seek funds for the various schemes initiated by the State government and to invite
polls, probably in April or May, and does not want the AMMK to split it
The perception is that the arrival of V K Sasikala, aide of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in the political scene could create a
walk away with more votes that would otherwise go to the AIADMK and thus weaken the entire alliance, in which the BJP is a part, paving the
way for an easy victory of the DMK in the elections.So, the BJP leaders are said to be putting pressure on the AIADMK to accept Sasikala and
AMMK into the party fold without any fuss
Voicing the same sentiment was Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam at a meeting of Jayalalithaa Peravai
office-bearers on Monday.Panneerselvam said in Chennai that 1.5 crore cadre of the AIADMK should ensure the easy victory of the party in the
elections and that any differences between the brothers would be sorted out amicably
treated the AIADMK and Sasikala as one entity that should be used to defeat the DMK, at the anniversary function of the magazine on January
Gurumurthy was engaged in a long conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he visited Chennai last and the two might have
discussed the BJP strategy for the State.But the other leaders of the AIADMK, including Palaniswami, are of the opinion that allowing
Sasikala into the party at this juncture could be detrimental to the poll prospects of the party and hence want to think about the merger
court against her removal from the post of general secretary of AIADMK, which has not been filled so far
to be in touch with some BJP leaders in Delhi in a bid to get something substantial for him and his followers, the AIADMK leaders are
reportedly suggesting that the BJP accommodate the AMMK as its ally and share some seats allotted to it to their representatives
