The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which was on the verge of breaking ties with the BJP, was held back from its decision on Tuesday following an intervention from a person close to the RSS leadership who was instrumental in bringing together the two parties.
The intervention came on the request of former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who had prevailed upon his father to wait till Wednesday before taking any drastic measure, sources said.
The BJP State leaders met and held deliberations on Tuesday afternoon following the developments.
Sources said Dr. Ramadoss, the PMK founder, wanted to snap ties with the BJP, but he was assured by the interlocutor that his demands on seat allotments would be discussed with all seriousness.
In consequence, the sources said parleys with DMDK had to be reopened as Dr. Ramadoss was insistent on getting either Salem or Tiruvannamalai, which he felt were winnable seats for the party. Dr. Ramadoss was also under pressure from PMK district units as candidates announced by the party months earlier have already spent considerable resources on campaigning.
The PMK leadership is yet to reconcile itself to the reality of working with the Vijyakant-led DMDK as the party had in the past campaigned aggressively against the actor-turned-politician, who sought to replace the PMK in its traditional turf.
However, a senior BJP leader said the party’s State election committee was to meet on Wednesday morning. “By noon, we will know whether the PMK is in the alliance or not. We do not think we can prolong the talks beyond Wednesday as our leaders are going to New Delhi to present the final equation to the Central leadership,” the functionary added.
Also, the BJP had to face tussle within as heavyweights in its ranks were competing with one another to get tickets in the western region. Issues had cropped up with regard to Coimbatore and Tirupur which have more than one serious contenders.
Also, the Kongu Nadu Makkal Desiya Katchi has threatened to walk out of the alliance if it was not allotted the Tirupur seat.
