Piyush Goyal meets with AIADMK leaders on alliance, seat-sharing

Amid rife speculation of AIADMK-BJP dialogue over a pre-poll alliance inching towards finalisation, the BJP election in-charge for Tamil Nadu Piyush Goyal arrived in Chennai on Thursday evening to meet with AIADMK leaders.

According to people aware of Goyal’s schedule for Thursday, the meeting was aimed at finalising seat-sharing and other alliance related issues.

Speaking to reporters at the airport Goyal said he was in the city to meet with internal party leaders and “friends.” According to people aware of the meeting, some members of the AIADMK seat sharing committee were present, too. Goyal, questioned if the meeting was a sign of affirmation of the AIADMK-BJP alliance, said all possibilities were open, but promised of “good news” soon.


“The announcement could be very soon,” a person who had facilitated the meeting told ET.

Speculation about the AIADMK inching closer to the BJP began soon after the visit of AIADMK leaders SP Velumani and P Thangamani with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman a few months ago.

Key among the alliance constituents is the PMK, which according to an Indian National Congress leader in charge alliances for Tamil Nadu, is currently engaged in dialogue with both national parties. DMDK, run by actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth and other parties such as the IJK and Puthiya Thazhagam(PT) could be part of the alliance.

AIADMK’s rival TTV Dhinakaran had said there were ongoing talks with political parties in the state. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan had hinted at going to polls alone, in an interview to ET earlier.