CHENNAI: When the DMDK formally joined the AIADMKled alliance last Sunday evening, leaders in the AIADMK would have heaved a sigh of relief, after being driven into frustration over prolonged alliance talks. Equally relieved would have been Union minister and BJP’s election incharge for Tamil Nadu,

, who was the architect behind the whole exercise.

Also relieved would have been a Bengaluru-based industrialist ‘Shriram’ Murali, well-known in business and political circles in the state, who was Goyal’s point-man to accomplish the task. During negotiations, ‘another’ Murali, a small-time industrialist and hotelier from Coimbatore region and said to be very close to AIADMK leaders from the Kongu belt (Western region of the state) came into the picture on behalf of AIADMK.

“From the BJP side, it was only Goyal and BJP national secretary P Muralidhar Rao, who knew what was happening. For his part, Goyal kept BJP president

informed from time to time. In the AIADMK, it was just the top four — CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam, besides ministers P Thangamani and S P Velumani — who were involved,” said a source privy to the developments.

The primary objective was two-fold. One, to form a formidable alliance in Tamil Nadu, a state perceived to be anti-Modi and anti-BJP. Second, to help the AIADMK government emerge victorious in the by-polls and help its government to survive for the rest of its term. “With several bypoll seats falling under PMK strongholds and a few others in the south, it was Goyal who wanted the PMK and the DMDK to be part of the alliance,” the sources said.

Contrary to outside belief, EPS and OPS trust each other. “Neither EPS nor OPS took any decision without consulting the other. Once the alliance was firmed up, the stock of EPS went up within the AIADMK as well as in BJP,” sources said.

But, the process was not easy. Between end-January to March 10, Goyal had to work tirelessly, spending hours in lengthy meetings over several days. “Every political party and its leaders had their own beliefs about their strengths and based their demands on that presumption. While it was hard to convince them about present reality, the biggest hazards of such lengthy discussions were the need to hear these leaders repeat the same thing, again and again,” the sources said.

One needed to be tactful too, at times. “A Thursday late night (February 14) meeting of Goyal with the top four AIADMK leaders in Chennai was kept a secret. EPS and OPS used private vehicles to maintain secrecy and entered the residence of industrialist

Mahalingam using the rear gate to avoid media glare. The media, however, sniffed out Goyal’s visit and flashed it. Hence, a private car kept for him could not be used. When Goyal was informed about it, he took it easy and said – somewhere these things would have to come out in the open,” the sources said.