Union minister of state for environment and BJP in-charge of Tamil Nadu affairs, Prakash Javadekar is expected to formally announce the firming up of electoral alliance on Sunday after concluding the meeting with DMDK founder Vijayakanth and PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss.

Javadekar who arrived in Chennai after attending a function in Nellore on Saturday evening, held talks with smaller parties, IJK and NJP.  He will then meet DMDK and PMK leaders.

Deccan Chronicle reports that he will be talking to allies who have been with the NDA for the 2014 Lok Sabha election and also to explore new partners who want to join NDA.

The BJP is exploring new “partners” because it wants like-minded parties to fight the Assembly elections “together,” he explained. When asked if he would be meeting Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa as indicated by a senior BJP leader, the minister called it a media speculation.

He met the leaders of New Justice Party, IJK and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Kazhagam.  A. C. Shanmugam of New Justice Party called the talks with Javadekar “smooth and fruitful."