AIADMK clinches LS poll deals with BJP, PMK

PTI, CHENNAI: Stealing a march over arch rival DMK, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Tuesday cobbled an alliance with the BJP and the PMK for the Lok Sabha elections, describing it as a "mega and victorious" combine amid indications some more parties are set to be roped in.

As per the understandings reached separately, BJP and PMK would contest five and seven seats respectively out of the total 39 Lok Sabha constituencies at stake in the state, AIADMK Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced on a day of fast paced political developments.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the BJP election-incharge for Tamil Nadu who led the saffron party in the negotiations, said the alliance would sweep all 40 seats in the state and Puducherry "as a mark of reverence to late chief minister Jayalalithaa."

The alliance would be under AIADMK in Tamil Nadu while at the national level the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will steer the NDA coalition, he told reporters.

While the number of segments to be fought by the AIADMK will be known later after other allies are allotted their share, the Paatali Makkal Katchi will also get one Rajya Sabha seat this year.

The DMK-led opposition camp which includes Congress and the IUML is yet to conclude seat sharing and firm up the alliance with outfits including the VCK and MDMK, described as "friendly parties," by it.

The PMK, which gave up its earlier policy of not aligning with either of the major Dravidian parties in the state, had held discreet talks with DMK as well, but in the end the AIADMK managed to woo it.

The coming Lok Sabha polls is the first major electoral battle for the AIADMK after the demise of its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa in December, 2016.

For the DMK too, it would be the first key poll battle after the death of its patriarch M Karunanidhi in August last year.

DMK described the alliance between the PMK and AIADMK as "nothing for the sake of the country or people," but "worried about money."