Erode East bypolls: Confusion continues in opposition AIADMK camps as BJP delays decision on support

Confusion continues to prevail among the AIADMK factions on whom the BJP would support in the February 27 Erode East by-poll. Though the BJP could have ended the suspense much earlier, its decision to wait till the AIADMK factions arrive at a consensus had only spilt the faction war to an all-time low with both K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam announcing their respective candidates - K S Thennarasu and Senthil Murugan - on Wednesday. Both the factions are contending for the party's Two Leaves symbol now.

Asked if both the AIADMK camps were attempting to pressure the BJP to support their respective candidate, Panneerselvam said there was time till February 7, the last date for filing of nominations, for the BJP to respond.

"You can't force a party to support. We didn't get the official confirmation yet from the BJP leaders," Pannneerselvam said.

The rival AIADMK camp under Palaniswami too attempted to exert pressure on the BJP by putting up a banner at its election office proclaiming itself as National Democratic Progressive Alliance (NDPA) and retracting its decision rectifying the words on the banner as National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the same day on Wednesday.

"You should ask them why the NDPA changed to NDA in the banner within six hours," BJP State chief K Annamalai said late Wednesday night.

"Our alliance is NDA. This is clear. Senior leaders from the AIADMK had called me and clarified that there has been a printing mistake," Annamalai said, when asked about the alliance issue figuring on AIADMK's official banner.

The opposition AIADMK's discomfiture is likely to work in favour of the ruling DMK-backed Congress candidate, E V K S Elangovan, in the by-election.

Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T T V Dhinakaran, whom Palaniswami and Panneerselvam expelled from the AIADMK, is hectically campaigning for his party candidate Shiva Prasanth, who is contesting on the Pressure Cooker symbol.