As K Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief drove down to the residence of Dr S Ramadoss, founder of the Vanniyar dominated Pattali Makkal Katchi to sign the electoral alliance for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswamy has been left high and dry in the State politics. For the first time in recent history of Tamil Nadu, a new challenger in the role of BJP has emerged to take on the might of the DMK.

According to the agreement signed by the BJP and the PMK on Tuesday (astrologically selected because it happened to be an auspicious day), the latter has been allocated ten seats out of the 39 seats at stake in Tamil Nadu. The PMK which has been bargaining with the AIADMK and BJP preferred to go with the latter much to the discomfiture of  Planiswamy.

“There are no worthwhile alliance partners for the AIADMK. The major fall out of the signing of the deal between the BJP and the PMK is that Tamil Nadu will see a direct fight between the BJP-led  NDA and the DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance. The AIADMK finds itself as a party sans alliance or partners,” Gauthaman Ramakrishnan, chief editor, Sree TV told The Pioneer.

According to political observers in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, which used to boast that it is an outfit having 1.5 crore members, the party has withered since the demise of J Jayalalithaa as a result of infighting and shadow boxings.

“Edappadi Palaniswamy was left dumbfounded as the PMK walked out of his AIADMK and aligned with the BJP. Now, the fight is between the BJP and the DMK for top honors as the AIADMK has been relegated to the third position,” said R Mohan, seasoned editor and journalist who has watched Tamil Nadu politics from close quarters for the last five decades. “It is going to be an interesting bout as the Congress is already on the defensive,” said Mohan.