AIADMK to withdraw Karnataka election candidate on BJP’s request

Edappadi K Palaniswami says senior BJP leaders spoke to him over the phone and sought the withdrawal of the Pulikeshinagar candidate.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (PTI)

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The AIADMK announced on Monday that it would withdraw its lone candidate in the Karnataka Assembly polls.

In a statement, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that senior leaders of the BJP, the party’s ally, had spoken to him over the phone and sought the withdrawal of the candidate from the Pulikeshinagar constituency.

#JUSTIN: D Anbarasan, presidium chairman of #AIADMK in Karnataka, to withdraw his candidature. AIADMK leader EPS says the decision was taken based on the request of their ally BJP. Anbarasan was nominted by the party for Pulikesishinagar Assembly constituency. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/RViT5jCwU0

— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) April 24, 2023

The Tamil Nadu-based party had nominated D Anbarasan, presidium chairman of the party in neighbouring Karnataka, for the May 10 elections.

Earlier, there were reports that an AIADMK executive meeting had decided to extend support to the BJP in the Karnataka polls. However, a statement from Palaniswami on April 19 said the AIADMK’s parliamentary board had decided to field Anbarasan from the SC-reserved seat of Pulikeshinagar.

The AIADMK’s rebel faction, led by expelled leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam, has nominated candidates for the Pulikeshinagar, Kolar Gold Field and Gandhinagar constituencies.

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