(Image source from: swarajyamag.com)

The Election Commission of India announced the dates for the Assembly polls in five Indian states and Tamil Nadu is one among them. The ruling party AIADMK is in plans to join hands with BJP in the Assembly polls and the discussion about the seat sharing is on from the past few weeks. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flew down to Chennai and met Chief Minister Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The deal is now sealed and BJP will contest in 20 constituencies of the state. Though BJP demanded more number of seats, the ruling AIADMK has been successful in convincing the national party. AIADMK is also keen to allocate the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha bypoll seat for BJP as per the agreement signed recently between AIADMK and BJP.

AIADMK party coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi Palaniswami signed the agreement along with BJP state president L Murugan. The state election in-charge CT Ravi too was present during the meeting. AIADMK will support BJP and will campaign in all the allocated seats. Amit Shah was keen to contest in 28 Assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu but the deal was closed. AIAMDK also released the first list of candidates for the Assembly polls. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will contest from Edappadi and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam will contest from Bodinayakanur constituency. The elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to take place on April 6th and the results will be declared on May 2nd.

By Siva Kumar