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EPS May Meet PM Modi During Tamil Nadu Visit on April 6
AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu’s leader of opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to the state on April 6. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the newly reconstructed Pamban railway bridge, located off the Rameswaram coast, as part of his official engagement in Tamil Nadu.
EPS Modi Meeting
A senior party functionary indicated that the meeting is expected to take place in Madurai on the same day. The development has sparked renewed political speculation, particularly about the possibility of rekindling the alliance between the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the general elections.
AIADMK BJP Alliance
According to BJP insiders, the alliance could offer a stronger challenge to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) if re-formed. One BJP leader remarked that a united front with the AIADMK would offer “arithmetical strength” in Tamil Nadu, where regional dynamics play a crucial role. The BJP is also in the midst of finalizing leadership appointments across 13 states, including Tamil Nadu, and is likely to announce the new state chief following the Prime Minister’s visit.
Tamil Nadu Politics
The AIADMK had exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2023, following tensions with BJP state president K. Annamalai, who had been critical of Dravidian leaders. That decision led to a cooling of ties between the two parties. However, recent backchannel discussions have signaled a thaw, particularly with the involvement of senior AIADMK leader S.P. Velumani and BJP’s Tamil Nadu legislative floor leader Nainar Nagendran.
The expected meeting between EPS and PM Modi is seen as a crucial moment that could reset political alignments in Tamil Nadu. If a new understanding is reached, it may reshape the electoral equations in the state and intensify the competition with the DMK-led alliance. With national elections drawing closer, the strategic timing of this potential political rapprochement is likely to be closely watched across party lines.
