How PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah charted plans to unite AIADMK

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the merger of AIADMK's two factions on Monday and said the Centre would provide all support to chief minister E Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam for Tamil Nadu's growth.

"I congratulate Thiru O Panneerselvam and others who took oath today. I hope Tamil Nadu scales newer heights of progress in the years to come," Modi tweeted.

I congratulate Thiru O Panneerselvam & others who took oath today. I hope Tamil Nadu scales newer heights of progress in the years to come.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2017

It is believed the BJP leadership, including Modi and party chief Amit Shah, played a crucial role in the merger as it comes with the opportunity for the saffron party to consolidate itself in the southern state.

There is also the possibility of the merged entity joining the NDA at the Centre, which will consolidate the ruling dispensation further following Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) coming on board. There is speculation BJP will use the opportunity to forge a pre-poll alliance with ADMK with V K Sasikala's sympathisers sidelined.

ADMK has 50 members in Parliament, including 37 in Lok Sabha and 13 in Rajya Sabha and their presence on the treasury benches will be a boost to NDA. Soon after Sasikala was jailed after her conviction on corruption charges, BJP began taking keen interest in Tamil Nadu politics, striving for unity among ADMK rival factions. As a weakened AIADMK could have seen rival DMK making gains and subsequently helping Congress, BJP leaders left no stone unturned to unite the two factions. Modi held several rounds of separate meetings with Panneerselvam and Palaniswami

Both leaders were invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, making it clear that the BJP brass wanted to keep both factions in good humour.

After Jayalalitha's death, BJP kept away as Sasikala took over as general secretary. BJP members were not ready to join hands with someone facing graft charges. The BJP leadership was equally apprehensive when Sasikala imposed her nephew TTV Dinkaran on the party. However, after Dinakaran was held for misuse of money in the assembly bypolls, BJP found it easier to convince the two factions to merge.