AIADMK says no alliance with BJP now, matter can be fixed during polls

Chennai, Sep 18: The simmering tension with the BJP over its leader K Annamalai’s attack on Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai prompted the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Monday to state it had no alliance with the saffron party as of now, and that a decision on the matter will be made during the upcoming elections.
AIADMK sought to make it clear it cannot tolerate any affront to the late Chief Minister and its other leaders.
The party trained its guns against BJP TN president K Annamalai, saying he was only keen to “promote” himself and was therefore targeting late Dravidian stalwarts Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna (elder brother), EV Ramasamy ‘Periyar’ and late AIADMK veterans MG Ramachandran (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa.
Responding, the BJP said the Dravidian party “has a problem,” with the growing stature of a young leader like Annamalai and claimed it was growing stronger in the state. The development came days after AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met BJP veteran and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar, lashing out at Annamalai for his criticism of Annadurai, said his party workers will not tolerate any insult to the late CM.
While Annamalai had made critical remarks about AIADMK leaders including the late J Jayalalithaa in the past, the party had sought that the former be restrained.
“Annamalai doesn’t desire an alliance with AIADMK although BJP workers want it. Should we tolerate all this criticism of our leaders? Why should we carry you? BJP can’t set foot here. Your votebank is known. You are known because of us,” the former minister told reporters here while lashing out at the BJP and its state unit president.
“We can’t tolerate anymore (the criticism of leaders). As far as the alliance is concerned, it is not there. BJP is not with AIADMK. (The matter) can be decided only during the election. This is our stand,” he said.
Asked if this was his personal opinion, Jayakumar asked, “have I ever spoken to you in that capacity. I only talk what the party decides.” A tall leader, Annadurai founded the DMK in 1949 and in 1967 heralded Tamil Nadu’s first non-Congress government post-independence and is respected across party lines.
MGR, who founded the AIADMK in 1972, named it the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, as he had great reverence for Annadurai. (PTI)