Today in Politics: Will BJP join hands with OPS? Nadda visit to Tamil Nadu fuels alliance buzz

While the Opposition INDIA bloc lurches from crisis to crisis, the ruling BJP seems to be finalising talks with its alliance partners.

The BJP’s deal with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which has an influence among Jats in western UP, is said to be “almost final”, with an announcement expected any day now. A political arrangement in Tamil Nadu seems to be next on the party’s agenda.

On Sunday, BJP national president J P Nadda will head to Tamil Nadu to address a public meeting at Mint Street, Harbour, in central Chennai. He will also meet former chief minister O Panneerselvam or OPS – who has been expelled from the AIADMK – as part of this visit.

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai’s “En Mann, En Makkal” (my land, my people) padayatra, which has been criss-crossing the state for the last six months, was initially supposed to be in Chennai Sunday, coinciding with Nadda’s visit. Annamalai was looking to hold a road show. The BJP has claimed that the DMK government has refused permission for the event.

There is buzz on the alliance front in Tamil Nadu too. Speaking to the media on Friday, OPS said: “Alliance talks are finalised. Talks are going on with the BJP. A mega alliance will be formed in Tamil Nadu to choose Narendra Modi as PM again.”

Nadda’s trip to Chennai will be under the spotlight to see the progress of this alliance move.

In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led coalition, of which the Congress is also a part, had won 38 of the 39 seats in the state. The Congress and the DMK have also recently reaffirmed their partnership and are holding seat-sharing talks.

In context: After a power tussle over the control of the AIADMK with party general secretary and ex-CM E Palaniswami or EPS, OPS was expelled from the party in July