‘No power sharing, I’ll be CM’: As EPS sends a loud message, why ally BJP is not ruffled | Political Pulse News

Behind this public assertiveness, lies a nuanced understanding between the AIADMK and BJP high command – that it is politically harmful for the AIADMK to publicly endorse the idea of a coalition government before the elections, for fear of a backlash from its core Dravidian voter base. In private, sources said, EPS has conveyed to Shah that a power-sharing arrangement could be considered in the case of a win, if “at a minimal level”.

The question of how much power the BJP wields in the alliance – particularly as it is still seen as an “outsider” by large sections in Tamil Nadu – has trailed the tie-up since it was forged in April. The fact that Shah made the announcement of the alliance, as EPS and outgoing BJP state chief K Annamalai sat in silence flanking him, drew eyebrows. The presence of Annamalai on the dais was seen as another message as many in the AIADMK blamed him for the two parties having fallen out earlier.

While Shah’s message was clear – “We will fight the elections under the leadership of Edappadiji” – the signalling from the dais plus the fact that the senior BJP leader went on to mention a “coalition government” had sent alarm bells ringing in some AIADMK quarters.

It had also given the ruling DMK – which has projected itself as the bulwark against the BJP and its ideology in Tamil Nadu – ammunition against the AIADMK. DMK leaders asked why Shah had stopped short of declaring EPS as the CM candidate, and said this showed the BJP’s lack of confidence in him.

EPS’s remarks Wednesday were seen as a firm attempt to reset the public perception, with sources saying that behind the scenes, the alliance was very much progressing as planned. “Both of us have already decided that the AIADMK is leading this alliance. EPS is going to be the CM. What else do you want to know?” he said.

A senior state RSS leader, privy to the negotiations between the AIADMK and BJP, told The Indian Express: “AIADMK cadres won’t be happy if there is talk of a coalition government. EPS told Shah that while he would convince his party leaders to agree to power-sharing in case of a poll victory, announcing the same prior to elections would be suicidal. The BJP has agreed to this, though some dissonance may have been caused because of how Shah’s statements were interpreted.”

A senior AIADMK leader reiterated this, saying the terms of the alliance were “mutually understood” and were a closed chapter.

Where the NDA is facing choppy waters is its inability so far to attract more parties on board, with certainty only about the BJP and AIADMK as members.

On Wednesday, EPS accused Chief Minister M K Stalin and the ruling DMK of attempting to create a wedge in the NDA via the media. “This is a clear alliance and the AIADMK will register a thumping win and form the next government,” he said.

EPS also mocked the newly launched ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ outreach campaign of the DMK, calling it a last-minute drama “to mislead the people of Tamil Nadu”. On the appointment of senior bureaucrats as government spokespersons, EPS said this was misuse of official machinery.

The AIADMK chief pointed out that while the DMK was now attacking it as “communal” for its alliance with the BJP, it had itself tied up with the BJP during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee years. “People will not fall for such hypocrisy anymore.”