Union Home Minister Amit Shah's crucial two-day visit to Tamil Nadu concluded on Monday without any decisive progress in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to fortify the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the poll-bound state. The trip, which was closely watched for potential political realignments, ended on an inconclusive note.
Key Meetings That Didn't Happen
There was significant anticipation that Shah would kickstart formal alliance discussions with potential regional partners, notably the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), during his stay. Furthermore, many expected a move towards resolving the internal impasse within the AIADMK involving factions led by TTV Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) was expected to travel to Trichy to meet Shah on Monday, but this high-profile meeting did not take place. A BJP member clarified the situation, stating, "Such a meeting was not scheduled. Also, the public meeting attended by Shah in Pudukottai was a BJP event, not an NDA event. Hence, allies were not invited."
Interactions and Temple Visits
Despite the absence of a meeting with EPS, former AIADMK minister S. P. Velumani met with the Union Home Minister twice. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is the BJP's Tamil Nadu election in-charge, was present during the first interaction. Both AIADMK and BJP officials remained tight-lipped about the details of these talks.
On the cultural front, Amit Shah visited the revered Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikoil and the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam on Monday. His itinerary also included a stop at the Trichy-Madurai National Highway, where the BJP had organized a grand 'Namma Ooru Modi Pongal Vizha', a traditional Pongal celebration featuring an impressive 1,008 pots. Although party cadres hoped for an address, Shah spent less than half an hour at the venue.
Core Committee Strategy and Future Plans
Prior to these events, on Sunday, Amit Shah chaired a meeting of the BJP's core committee in the state, focusing on election strategy. BJP sources have indicated that Shah may make another visit to Chennai later this month, where a meeting with AIADMK chief EPS could potentially be on the cards.
The visit underscores the BJP's concerted efforts to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu, a state where it has traditionally been a minor player. However, the lack of immediate alliance announcements suggests that negotiations are still ongoing, and the final shape of the NDA for the upcoming elections remains uncertain.
