AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, who is asserting himself by luring MLAs from the Palaniswami's camp, is also in favour of supporting the BJP's nominee for the Presidential polls
Leaders of various AIADMK factions may muddy each other with charges and counter charges. But when it comes to cosying up with the BJP at the Centre, they speak in one voice — be it the faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, former CM O Panneerselvam or the newly born TTV Dinakaran faction.
AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, who is asserting himself by luring MLAs from the Palaniswami's camp, is also in favour of supporting the BJP's nominee for the Presidential polls, said sources.
AIADMK factions' support to the BJP will be crucial to ensure outright victory for its nominee in the Presidential polls scheduled on July 17 considering the Dravidian party's 5.36 vote share in the Presidential Electoral College. Already, the EPS and the OPS camps are firmly behind the BJP. But the return of Dinakaran from Tihar prison in the EC bribery case has created a confusion among the AIADMK supporters. As on Wednesday evening, Dinakaran has a support of 32 MLAs and five MPs.
Dinakaran and his supporters had hinted at the BJP's hand in the ruling AIADMK ministers' decision to sideline Sasikala and her family from the party and the government and also in the EC bribery case. However, Dinakaran's supporter VP Kalairajan said it was true that BJP played a party in AIADMK's split but that does come in the way of the AIADMK government having a cordial relationship with the Centre. "The AIADMK MLAs are meeting Dinakaran as he is the party's deputy general secretary. There is no further split. All the 123 MLAs and 37 MPs are united," he said.
On the reports of Palaniswami assuring his faction's support to the BJP in the Presidential election, Kalairajan said it was Palaniswami who was meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official visit. "If he had given an assurance, all the legislators will vote for the BJP," he said. Pannerselvam meet Modi in New Delhi on May 19 and a few days later Palaniswami called on the Prime Minister on May 24. Both AIADMK factions had reportedly assured their support to the PM during their meetings.
However, another Dinakaran loyalist Thanga Tamilselvan said any decision on extending support to the BJP in the Presidential polls would be taken by Dinakaran in consultation with Sasikala.
In the Presidential Electoral College, AIADMK (Amma) with its 123 MLAs and 37 MPS in both Houses has total votes of 47,844 while the rebel Panneerselvam led AIADMK faction to have 10,608 votes considering values of 12 MLAs and 12 MPs on its side.
Political analyst Gnani sees no threat to the Edappadi government. "The EPS government will fall only if the BJP and the DMK come together. Because if a mid-term election comes, the only party to benefit largely out of it will be DMK. If there is no gain for the BJP, it will not allow the government to fall," he said, adding that BJP would try to bring all the AIADMK factions together to get back its Two Leaves symbol and ensure an alliance with it.
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