Of late, there has been a lot of buzz about the AIADMK and the BJP inching ever closer to an electoral pact. Wednesday saw two meetings between senior dignitaries of the two parties.
In Chennai, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan called on Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. In New Delhi, two Ministers – P. Thangamani and S.P. Velumani – met Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, regarded as the Centre’s point person for matters concerning Tamil Nadu.
On the record, representatives of both parties denied that there was any political significance to the meetings. While Mr. Radhakrishnan said he had raised the need to expedite development projects in his constituency, Mr. Thangamani and Mr. Velumani said they had requested Ms. Sitharaman to use her good offices to ensure the release of around ₹3,780 crore meant for rural and urban local bodies in the State. [Mr. Velumani, who is scheduled to meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on Thursday, was reported to have told mediapersons that it was the party leadership that would decide the issue of alliance with the BJP].