Even as all eyes remain on post-poll negotiations in Tamil Nadu, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami offered his “heartfelt congratulations to the party set to form the government” on May 9.
The short statement from EPS comes at a time when the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) is yet to announce its alliance decision. Later, on May 9, party president Thol Thirumavalavan is expected to announce if he intends to stay with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or extend support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
If the VCK does support the TVK, Vijay will have the required 117 seats to stake a claim to form the government. In this case, Vijay will be leading a minority government in alliance with the Congress (5), Left parties (4) and the VCK (2). The TVK won 108 seats on its own.
EPS’ statement was also released in the midst of increasing criticism regarding alliance talks between arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK. Sources have previously confirmed these discussions to TNM. On May 8, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-(M)] general secretary MA Baby told India Today that DMK president MK Stalin had requested support for such an alliance. He added that the CPI(M) cannot offer support as the AIADMK is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).