NEW DELHI: The merger happened in Chennai but was scripted in New Delhi, like the JDU-BJP deal in Bihar. Two months ago, when Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi , he reportedly convinced OPS to work with E Palaniswami , in line with a pragmatic formula suggested by Sangh ideologue S Gurumurthy , BJP insiders said.The Centre was determined not to destablise the government in a state crucial in many ways: “Tamil Nadu needs to attract investments under Make in India. Majority of Japanese investments go to the state and Japan is very important for India,” a top official said.OPS and EPS factions lacked trust in each other and mediators. That is when veteran mediator Gurumurthy started speaking with both camps, convincing both to come together. “It would not have been possible without the central pressure to provide the governance Jayalalithaa had promised. Both placed trust in Gurumurthy and the talks succeeded,” a BJP leader said.BJP’s efforts for control in TN began immediately after Jaya’s death. “The party will take years to establish itself in the state and the only way now to increase immediate BJP foothold is by aligning with a unified AIADMK by making it stable,” a BJP leader said. Not confident of the state BJP unit, the leadership relied on its national leaders and intermediaries.Right from the outset, the PM and party president Amit Shah were clear that there was no place for the Mannargudi family.Several ministers in the BJP and some in the party also felt that the party should support the faction led by EPS - the man with the support and resources and let go off OPS, but for the party leadership- especially for PM Modi and Amit Shah, that OPS had better vote capturing capability and was seen as Jayalalithaa's rightful inheritor - having already been the CM thrice, was of value.And while Modi met EPS and OPS several times, listened to them and took a keen interest in affairs of the state, he also warned several MPs from the state to not indulge in corruption. In February, after Sasikala’s arrest, investigating agencies started probing major cases of embezzlement in Tamil Nadu. Fifty-eight searches were conducted in five months. After the searches at health minister Vijayabhaskar’s house, both factions became nervous and approached BJP and RSS leaders in TN, ‘seeking mercy.’ The Centre too was keen the factional feud was resolved and the state did not slip into the hands of the opposition. Just like in Bihar where the fight was against the influence of Lalu Prasad Yadav and family, in Tamil Nadu the priority for BJP was to keep the Mannargudi family and Karunanidhi's children away from power.The dynamics between OPS and EPS and their equation with PM, Shah and Gurumurthy would decide the course of politics, an analyst said. “After the merger, Modi tweeted a heartfelt congratulatory message to OPS but his tweet to EPS was formal. These things will be noticed henceforth,” an AIADMK leader close to OPS said. BJP is aware that EPS has been careful in not taking potshots at Sasikala and got her expulsion signed by another leader. As the merger was being finalised, he even delayed the expulsion though he relented later. “You make two fighting men equally powerful so that the power always remain with the problem solver,” said a senior BJP leader, explaining the party’s position, while officially denying the role played by the party.