Jayalalithaa to Meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi Today

New Delhi – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today amidst speculation that the BJP is trying to lure her party, the AIADMK, into the NDA-fold to seek its support in the Rajya Sabha where the ruling party is in a minority.

As the BJP with 42 members in the 245-Upper House falls short of the 123-mark, speculations are rife that the Modi-led party might warm up to AIADMK which has ten members in the House.

The BJP needs the AIADMK’s support in a bid to push through key legislation in the Rajya Sabha.

An official communication from the Tamil Nadu government had said that Ms Jayalalithaa would meet the Prime Minister to discuss issues concerning the state.

She is expected to raise the issues of allocation of additional power to the state, which is facing an energy shortage, and also the fishermen’s issue who are facing trouble from Sri Lankan authorities.

She will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee.

According to sources, Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad and Minister of state for Commerce Nirmala Sitaraman are likely to meet Ms Jayalalithaa.

Ms Jayalalithaa is said to share a good rapport with Mr Modi and was seen in the run-up to the general elections as a natural ally would the BJP have needed support to form government.

During the campaign, both leaders criticised each other as they addressed their voters. But after they emerged big winners on May 16 when votes were counted, they exchanged greetings and Mr Modi assured the state of the Centre’s support.

But Ms Jayalalithaa had sacked a party leader soon after for suggesting that the AIADMK would like “close ties” with the BJP. “Narendra Modi is great friend of Jayalalithaa, they may differ politically. If he becomes PM then Madam would like close ties,” former AIADMK leader K Malaisamy had said.