All Eyes on Modi’s Chengalpattu Rally

All attention is now on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting scheduled for January 23 in Chengalpattu district, as the event is expected to bring clarity on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu. The BJP is making strong efforts to finalise its alliance before the meeting and hopes to turn the rally into a major show of strength.

Party sources said the BJP wants leaders from all alliance parties to share the stage with Prime Minister Modi, sending a clear message of unity ahead of the elections.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is the BJP’s Tamil Nadu election in-charge, is expected to arrive in Chennai on January 21 to complete talks with potential allies. A senior BJP leader said discussions with the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) are almost complete and that an agreement could be signed on January 22, just a day before the rally.

If the deal goes through, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran is expected to appear on the stage along with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss.

Sources also said that last-minute talks are still going on with the DMDK, as the BJP tries to strengthen the NDA further before the high-profile meeting.