AIADMK Says 'No Alliance With BJP' As Fissures Grow Between Old Allies In Tamil Nadu

The AIADMK on Monday distanced itself from the BJP, saying that the move was motivated by the repeated criticism of veteran leaders of the state party by the saffron party's Tamil Nadu unit chief, K Annamalai. However, the Tamil Nadu-based party also hinted that a pre-poll alliance with the BJP would not be entirely out of the question.

"BJP is not in alliance with AIADMK. We will decide about the alliance during the elections only. This is not my personal view. This is our party's stand. BJP cadres want an alliance with the AIADMK but Annamalai (TN BJP President K Annamalai) doesn't want an alliance. He always criticises our leaders. He is unfit to be BJP state president," AIADMK leader D Jayakumar announced.

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BJP is not in alliance with AIADMK. We will decide about the alliance during the elections only. This is not my personal view. This is our party's stand. BJP cadres want an alliance with the AIADMK but Annamalai (TN BJP President K Annamalai) doesn't want an alliance. He always… pic.twitter.com/iAdjq4toY3

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023

Annamalai's interview with an English daily earlier this year prompted former BJP ally AIADMK to pass a resolution against him. Annamalai's response to one of the questions was widely seen as an attempt to insinuate former Tamil Nadu CM and late DMK matriarch Jayalalithaa was a corrupt administrator.

(Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai addressing a press conference in Chenna. Pic sourced from ANI)

"We can't accept continuous criticism of our leaders. Annamalai already criticised our leader Jayalalithaa. At that time, we passed a resolution against Annamalai. He should have stopped this. He is criticising Anna, Periyar, and the General Secretary," D Jayakumar stated.

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"No cadre would accept this. Tomorrow we have to work on the field. So without any option, we announced this. There won't be any impact on us with this decision. We are confident of our victory," the AIADMK leader further said.

Earlier this month, during a protest over the row triggered by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's 'Eradicate Sanatana Dharma' remarks, Annamalai also made a controversial statement on the late CN Annadurai. Popularly referred to as 'Anna' by both the DMK and its breakaway AIADMK, Annadurai was the last Chief Minister of the undivided Madras State and the first one of present-day Tamil Nadu. He is a highly revered figure among the ranks of the two rival parties.

(With inputs from ANI)