The AIADMK is keeping the BJP-led NDA in suspense over the issue of an alliance. Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami said on Monday after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that a decision would be taken after the announcement of Lok Sabha poll dates.
With the BJP so far being unable to make it alone in the state and needing an alliance with one of the Dravidian parties, the move by Palaniswami is clearly aimed at securing more central assistance.
The chief minister, who was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Minister D Jayakumar and Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, met Modi at his office and gave him a memorandum regarding various demands of his government, including conferring Bharat Ratna on the late C N Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa and naming the iconic Chennai Central railway station after the late M G Ramachandran.
Later, Palaniswami told reporters in reply to a question: “(Lok Sabha) elections have not been announced. We will decide on an alliance once the poll dates are announced.” He urged the Prime Minister for early action on the construction of an AIIMS at Thoppur in Madurai.
Palaniswami said the Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed resolutions on the issues of Bharat Ratna and Chennai Central station and the Centre should act on them soon.
Among the demands made by the state in the memorandum given to the Prime Minister are: Centre should allocate Rs 4,445 crore for executing permanent flood control plans for Chennai, denial of permission to Karnataka for construction of Mekadatu dam on river Cauvery, construction of a naval base in Kanyakumari district that would help in rescue of fishermen stranded during cyclone and other times, setting up an ordnance manufacturing unit in the unused lands of Salem Steel Plant and construction of airports in Hosur, Neyveli and Ramanathapuram.
Asked whether the state would consider cutting VAT on diesel and petrol, the Chief Minister said: “Keeping the financial position in mind in view of the large number of ongoing people’s welfare schemes, we will consider the issue.” To another question on the controversy over a meeting between Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and expelled AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran last year, he said OPS had already given his explanation and he had nothing more to say.
Asked about the Opposition to reopening of the Sterlite project and the recent sanction of contracts to Vedanta- group company for extraction of hydrocarbons in the seas of Tamil Nadu coasts, EPS said the state would not allow any schemes that would go against the interests of the people. This had been made clear, he added.