In all likelihood, Jayalalithaa would seek financial package for Tamil Nadu’s development as also funds for people-oriented welfare programmes

After her triumphant return to power for the second consecutive term in Tamil Nadu – a feat no other chief minister has done in over three decades – chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa visits Delhi to call on prime minister Narendra Modi, an event that is pregnant with political possibilities.

It might not result in an immediate political tie up that the BJP seems to be hankering after in Tamil Nadu with the AIADMK, as the regional party does not see any percentage in it for such an electoral alliance.

A political analyst was candid in his assessment.

With 37 Lok Sabha MPs and 13 Rajya Sabha members, the AIADMK becomes the third largest party in parliament and a force to reckon with. A strong voice from Tamil Nadu, with chief minister J Jayalalithaa never mincing any words when it came to the state’s interests.

This was seen in the vehement way in which Jayalalithaa expressed her opposition to the GST bill, ever since it was introduced by the UPA government and maintained her stand through Modi government tenure so far, despite enjoying good personal rapport with the prime minister. The same, however, cannot be said about the BJP, which had launched a blistering attack against Jayalalithaa during the assembly polls.

The Tamil Nadu people have given their verdict – the BJP could secure its deposits in only three of the 234 constituencies it fought along with its allies.

The political situation is that it is the BJP that needs the AIADMK more than the other way around – especially in the Rajya Sabha, where the GST bill could be torpedoed by the opposition led by the Congress.

For the record, Jayalalithaa has said that she would be consider the issue when it came up, in the overall interests of Tamil Nadu. The GST in its present form would mean losses to a manufacturing state like Tamil Nadu and thus the chief minister would like adequate and appropriate modifications if the AIADMK is the support the bill whole heartedly.

This is being seen as a bargaining chip by the political observers, who point out that Jayalalithaa might be pitching in for more financial support from the centre to fund the populist programmes and freebies that she had promised during the elections. Moreover, there is the issue of release of Rajiv Gandhi convicts who have spent over two and half decades in jail and this is an emotional issue in Tamil Nadu.

It is, however, on the economic front, that Jayalalithaa’s Delhi visit gains significance.

Tamil Nadu at present has a debt burden of Rs 2.11 lakh crore and counting. Development economists are alarmed that the subsidies would cost the state very dear in the longer run.

A senior AIADMK leader in Chennai said that many more social schemes announced by Amma would need central assistance and Tamil Nadu people are hopeful that Amma would be able to prevail upon the centre to come to the aid of the people of the state.

Jayalalithaa is all set to reach Delhi on Tuesday on a day-long visit, her first after winning the elections for the second time running She is likely to meet couple of union ministers as well during her Delhi visit.

She had visited Delhi after Modi became the prime minister in 2014.