Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chennai, November 19 (IANS) AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) will resume his constituency-wise campaign from Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu in late November, possibly on November 27 or 28.
Party sources said the program may be adjusted depending on weather conditions as the northern districts have been experiencing intermittent rain.
EPS had stopped its outreach tour after the Karur stampede tragedy that claimed 41 lives.
As the campaign resumes, alliance discussions have gained momentum, especially between the AIADMK and the PMK.
According to sources, PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss expressed his desire to see EPS as the next chief minister when he met him in the hospital recently.
PMK aides also confirmed that informal talks between the two sides were making “good progress”.
An AIADMK functionary said the tense equation between Ramadoss and his son Anbumani was an “internal matter of the PMK”, adding that both leaders were willing to stand with EPS in the upcoming political fight.
Even though the BJP and AIADMK consider GK Vasan’s Tamil Maan Congress (TMC) as a reliable ally, the broader NDA scenario in Tamil Nadu remains volatile.
It is expected that many parties will formalize their alliance options in January itself.
The DMDK has already announced that it will reveal its stand during its state conference in Cuddalore early next year.
Meanwhile, people close to EPS say he is adamant that former AIADMK coordinator O. Expelled leaders, including Panneerselvam and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran, will not be taken back into the party.
At the same time, he is committed to building a strong anti-DMK alliance by keeping communication channels open with potential partners.
A senior AIADMK leader said, “EPS is not in a hurry. His focus is on strengthening the anti-incumbency wave against the ruling DMK and gradually building momentum.”
EPS’s campaign, ‘Makkalai Kappom; Tamizhagthai Meetpom, launched in Coimbatore in July, has covered 174 assembly constituencies so far.
In this, issues like deterioration of law and order, inflation, corruption, dynastic politics and industrial stagnation have been highlighted. The next part will highlight the “struggle of the common man”, with emphasis on living conditions, basic amenities and public safety.
The AIADMK chief aims to cover the remaining constituencies in Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Chennai, Erode and Kanyakumari twice a day until the statewide tour is completed.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has given time till Thursday to the state government to submit draft standard operating procedures to regulate political rallies, with the matter scheduled to be heard the next day.
–IANS
fish/svn