CHENNAI: Seat-sharing talks in the AIADMK-BJP alliance shifted to Delhi as AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami flew to the national capital on Thursday and met Union home minister Amit Shah. EPS called on Shah around 10pm and had a detailed discussion, said AIADMK sources.AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran and state BJP president Nainar Nagenthran are set to fly to Delhi on Friday morning and participate in the seat-sharing talks with Shah for the April 23 polls. Soon after the talks, Union minister Piyush Goyal would be visiting Tamil Nadu to finalize and sign seat-sharing agreements with allies in Chennai.AIADMK sources said that EPS’s visit to Delhi and his meeting with Shah was more about the claim for specific constituencies by BJP and less about seat numbers. Some of the seats such as Singanallur, Nagercoil, Madurai (West), Madurai (North), Thiruparankundram, Tiruttani, Coimbatore (North), Coimbatore (South) and Velachery are sought by BJP leaders as well as AIADMK functionaries.“There is nothing wrong in seeking constituencies that we wish for,” Nainar Nagenthran told reporters when asked about the speculation over the conflict among allies for specific seats.However, senior leaders on both sides expressed confidence that the EPS-Shah meeting would iron out differences and pave the way for a formal agreement in the coming days. As far as the number of seats is concerned, AIADMK leadership has agreed to allot up to 29 seats, while BJP was demanding 30 seats.A senior AMMK functionary confirmed Dhinakaran’s Delhi visit on Friday to finalize the party’s seat share. “If things go as planned, the formal signing of the agreement would take place in Chennai on Saturday in the presence of Union minister Piyush Goyal, EPS and leaders of other alliance partners — PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, TMC (M) leader G K Vasan and others,’’ said the functionary.AIADMK leaders said though a panel for holding seat-sharing talks was formed, all the decisions were taken by EPS. The Delhi visit of EPS too has come as surprise to many second-rung leaders.
