Back'Happiest moment': AIADMK snaps ties with BJP-led NDA, passes resolution
AIADMK has officially called off its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu after a row over remarks against party veteran leaders
PremiumThe All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday snapped all ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The AIADMK has officially called off its alliance with the BJP after a row over BJP state chief K Annamalai's remarks against veterans CN Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami chaired a party meeting of key office-bearers, including the district secretaries and MLAs on Monday where a resolution to break off all ties with BJP was taken.
Following a war of words over late Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai over certain remarks about him by the BJP state chief K Annamalai, senior AIADMK leader Jayakumar had on 18 September called off the alliance between the two, insisting he was conveying the party's stand on the issue.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai had earlier during an interview said, “many administrations of Tamil Nadu were corrupt with former chief ministers convicted in courts of law", insinuating a jibe at ally party's CM J Jayalalithaa.
Further, Annamalai had also said late Chief Minister CN Annadurai insulted Hinduism during an event in Madurai in 1956. He said Annadurai had to hide in Madurai after his remark and could only travel after he issued an apology.
With the breaking away of ties with AIADMK, the saffron party's hope for a south India bastion seems bleak, even as the differences between Sanatan Dharma versus Dravidian ideologues refuses to die down.
K P Munusamy, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator and former minister on Monday said, "AIADMK unanimously passed a resolution in the meeting. AIADMK is breaking all ties with BJP and NDA from today. The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about our former leaders, our general secretary EPS and our cadres for the past one year."
The resolution, without naming anyone, said the BJP's state leadership has been of late defaming Dravidian stalwart, the late CN Annadurai and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, besides criticising its policies.
It was obvious the Dravidian party was miffed with BJP state president K Annamalai, whose comments about Annadurai had created a rift between the two erstwhile allies.
Amid bursting of crackers at the party headquarters here, Munsamy said the unanimous decision honours the sentiments and aspirations of over two crore party workers.
Top party office-bearers, district secretaries and MLAs and MPs took part in the AIADMK meet.
After the announcement of the resolution to be break ties with BJP-led NDA were made, AIADMK Spokesperson Sasirekha said, "Based on the members' opinion we are taking this resolution... This is the happiest moment for AIADMK. We are very happy to face the upcoming elections whether it might be Parliament or Assembly elections..."
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An AIADMK delegation that flew to the national capital on Friday met party president J P Nadda and Union Minister Piyush Goyal, in-charge of Tamil Nadu, and sought the leadership's intervention in making Annamalai apologise.
If this was not possible, then they could consider posting a non-controversial leader who could work in close coordination with the AIADMK during the Lok Sabha election next year, they reportedly said.
The BJP central leadership, though not in so many words, conveyed that it backed the aggressive politics of Annamalai for the party's development, a senior party leader had said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Jayakumar had said, "There is no change in our September 18 stand... there is no alliance with BJP." He declined to speak further on the matter, indicating it might come up for discussion on September 25.
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