Last Updated:
Sources have indicated to CNN-News 18 that Amit Shah is likely to meet former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami (EPS), ex-deputy speaker of Lok Sabha Munisamy Thambidurai, and other leaders on Friday
Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. (File image/PTI)
Arriving in Chennai late on Thursday night, union home minister Amit Shah will be engaged in a full day of activities in Tamil Nadu’s capital city on Friday.
Shah is scheduled to meet S Gurumurthy, an RSS ideologue and the editor of the Tamil magazine Thuglak. Gurumurthy has been instrumental in the BJP’s understanding of Tamil Nadu politics. He played a significant role in attempting to influence Rajinikanth to enter active politics, though this ultimately did not materialise.
In addition to this meeting, the minister is scheduled to hold a press conference in Chennai on Friday afternoon.
However, the most crucial aspect of his visit will be his ability to hold discussions with AIADMK leaders regarding a potential alliance. Sources have indicated to CNN-News 18 that Amit Shah is likely to meet former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Karuppa Palaniswami (EPS), ex-deputy speaker of Lok Sabha Munisamy Thambidurai, and other leaders.
This will be the second round of meetings of the BJP with the AIADMK in the past month. A couple of weeks ago, leaders from late CM J Jayalalithaa’s party also met the BJP’s top leadership in the national capital.
Recent developments, including the announcement by BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai that he is not in the running for state leadership, align with the demands made by the AIADMK. This comes after the public discord between leaders of both sides in the state, indicating that the BJP is looking to forge an alliance. Tamil Nadu is slated to have assembly elections next year. Other tie-ups, including one with the PMK, are also expected to take shape once a formidable alliance between the BJP and the AIADMK is secured.
The BJP’s central leadership, led by Amit Shah, has been directly challenging the ruling DMK-Congress alliance leaders. Whether on the issue of the “three-language policy and Hindi imposition” or the concerns surrounding delimitation, there has been a swirling war of words between the two sides.
