Chennai, June. 13: Following a humiliating loss in Karnataka, the BJP is now experiencing another shock in Tamil Nadu. Its sole ally in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, is expected to break off their alliance. This is as a result of remarks made by K Annamalai, the state BJP president
Yes, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai is urging the AIADMK on Monday to reconsider its alliance with the saffron party despite having “good relations” with the central leadership, the AIADMK said on Monday. This statement comes after Annamalai claimed that former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu were involved in corruption and some of them were convicted.
An English daily published on Monday K. Annamalai said in an interview that “Tamil Nadu is one of the most corrupt states where ‘former chief ministers’ have been convicted”. However, no leaders were named. However, Jayalalithaa died before the final verdict in the ill-gotten gains case in December 2016. Her aide VK Sasikala and a few others were eventually convicted by the Supreme Court. .This is a case of illegal wealth gain during the period 1991-1996 when he was Chief Minister.
These statements infuriated the AIADMK and K. If action was not taken against Annamalai, he said he would “rethink the alliance”. Already rattled by Annamalai’s controversial statements, the AIADMK sent a final warning, “Keep him under control, or else…”
Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar fumed, “Annamalai is not fit to be the party’s state president, he should take his word for it. We feel that he does not want to continue the alliance or that PM Modi does not want to win again.”
“Even though the central leadership (BJP) is on good terms with us, Annamalai is forcing us to reconsider the alliance. Instead of criticizing the common and eternal enemy DMK, Annamalai has criticized our deceased leader. Annamalai has angered every AIADMK worker today,” AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar said in Chennai.
“These statements and behaviors of Annamalai show that he does not want the alliance to continue. It raises doubts that he does not want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to win a third term at the Centre,” Jayakumar remarked.
State BJP chief Annamalai’s moves have often led to massive outrage in the AIADMK camp. In March, he had spoken against an alliance with the AIADMK for the 2024 elections. This infuriated senior AIADMK leaders who had forged a long-awaited alliance with the BJP after Jayalalithaa’s death.
