AIADMK likely to back BJP in RS poll

CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu is likely to endorse the BJP-backed candidate in the election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman scheduled for August 9. The AIADMK's backing would be called for only if there is no consensus among the treasury and opposition benches. The election to the post was necessitated by the retirement of Congress leader P J Kurien on July 2.
After voting against the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition recently on the ground that "an elected government should be allowed to complete its term", the Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam-led AIADMK will continue to be supportive of the saffron party, senior leaders said.
The BJP requires 123 votes in the Rajya Sabha to win the election. While BJP has a strength of 73 members in the Upper House, the 13-member AIADMK bloc, including the lone Puducherry member and rebel Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy, will help increase its tally. It is likely K Chandrasekhar Rao's TRS will back the BJP. This was indicated by his meeting with PM Modi on Saturday when he expressed his keenness for a post-poll alliance. Senior AIADMK leaders said equations between the EPS government and NDA government remain "cordial." The party backed the NDA's President and Vice-President candidates last year.
The AIADMK has, however, remained non-committal on striking electoral alliance with the BJP for the general elections in 2019. It is too early to talk about electoral alliances, said a senior minister seeking anonymity. On RS deputy chairman poll, the AIADMK will make known its decision when the BJP approaches it officially, he said, adding that his party is likely to back the BJP candidate. Days before the no confidence motion was to be taken up for discussion and voting, BJP national president Amit Shah called up deputy CM Panneerselvam to seek the party's support despite having the requisite numbers. OPS is believed to have persuaded CM Palaniswami to back BJP. Until then, the AIADMK leadership had stood firm on abstaining. Despite a section of MPs rebelling against the move, the party finally stood by Modi.
"If there is an election (for the post of RS deputy chairman), we will certainly reach out to parties, including the AIADMK. But, this should not be seen as an attempt to sew up an alliance for 2019 polls," said a senior BJP leader. The Congress with 50 MPs took a lead and united the opposition parties, including the DMK and the Left, on Monday and discussed about strategies to field a candidate of their choice. The DMK, which has four members in the RS, was represented by Tiruchi Siva at the meeting convened by the Congress.