Chennai, Sep 18 : Amid strident verbal volleys between the two parties on
some remarks made by BJP Tamil Nadu Unit President K.Annamalai during a
recent protest against Anna, Periyar and others, the main Opposition AIADMK
on Monday announced snapping of its with the saffron party.
Talking to reporters, former Minister and senior leader D.Jayakumar took strong
exception to Mr Annamalai’s alleged remarks against Dravidian Stalwart and
former Chief Minister C.N.Annadurai, popularly called as ‘Anna’ (elder brother)
and said the BJP would not get past NOTA in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“The BJP is not in alliance with AIADMK now. We will decide about the alliance
at the time of elections only,” he said.
Mr Jayakumar asserted that this is the stand of the AIADMK (snapping ties with
the BJP) and not his personal opinion,.
“Though the BJP wanted an alliance with the AIADMK, Annamalai does not wish
the same”, he added.
Referring to some criticisms made against AIADMK leader, Mr Jayakumar said
“We can’t accept continuous criticism on our leaders. Annamalai already criticised
our leader J Jayalalithaa. At that time, we passed a resolution against him. He
should have stopped with this.”
“Annamalai is criticising Anna, Periyar (rationalist leader and Social reformer) and
the general secretary. No AIADMK cadre will accept this. Tomorrow we have to work
on the field. So we have no option but to sever ties with the BJP”, he said.
Stating that snapping ties with the BJP would not have any impact on the prospects
of the AIADMK in the elections, Mr Jayakumar said it would only be a set back for the
BJP.
Later, talking to a TV channel, Mr Jayakumar asserted that a grand alliance headed
by the AIADMK will be formed for the Lok Sabha polls and those parties that accept
the leadership of AIADMK will be part of the alliance.
The alliance arithmetics and the parties which would be part of the AIADMK-led
alliance would be known after the Election Commission announced the LS poll
schedule.
He also said that he was not sure whether the remarks made by Mr Annamalai
was his own personal remarks or that of the official stand of the BJP party.
He also alleged that Mr Annamalai is not qualified enough to hold the post of the
BJP State Unit Chief and that he did not know anything about Perarignar Anna.
Th AIADMK’s sudden decision to sever ties with the BJP comes days after party
General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami met
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi a few days ago, though both the parties
had been maintaining that the alliance between them was intact.
However, strains started developing over the last few days following Mr Annamalai’s
remarks triggering an annoying rebuttal by another senior AIADMK leader and former
Minister C.Ve.Shanmugam and the BJP State Chief hitting back at him in equal
strong terms.