By IANS,
Chennai : The alliance of opposition parties in Tamil Nadu formed under the leadership of AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalitha for the Lok Sabha polls has started to unravel, leaders in some of the alliance partners said here Saturday.
The bone of contention is the number of seats each alliance partner will contest in Tamil Nadu, which sends 39 representatives to the Lok Sabha.
Rajya Sabha MP T.K. Rangarajan of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) – a member of the alliance – said: “We do not want to confirm or deny any of those (tussles). Talks are continuing.”
Another alliance partner, MDMK, expressed its unhappiness more openly, though not on record. “To retain the party’s honour, we are involved in talks with other parties (outside the alliance),” said a senior MDMK leader. “But their identities will not be disclosed at this point in time.”
AIADMK had earlier said it was willing to cede four seats to CPI-M and MDMK.
The CPI-M authorised its state unit Friday to decide the future course of action “if negotiations with AIADMK failed”.
Elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled May 13.