After Amit Shah reportedly indicated that the BJP was open to welcoming back the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Wednesday said the Union home minister had not named any particular party and that the NDA was always open to anyone who accepts Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision. Annamalai’s response to the reporters at the Chennai airport came after AIADMK leader D Jayakumar had said in Thanjavur earlier in the day that a resolution had been passed and the party would not join hands with the BJP for the polls. “Amit Shah can say anything, as far as we are concerned, we will not ally with BJP,” Jayakumar said, responding to media reports that had quoted Shah as saying that all options were open regarding an alliance. Shah said this in an interview with a Tamil Daily when asked if the BJP would patch up with the AIADMK, which ended its alliance with the BJP in September 2023. Annamalai also responded to DMK MP TR Baalu's remarks that questioned his stature in politics. Baalu had reportedly asked the media not to post questions about Annamalai, a policeman turned politician. Annamalai said his questions resonate with the common man and it is up to the DMK MP whether to respond to them or not. He also referred to the third part of 'DMK Files', which the BJP released with audio files related to the 2G scam investigation. “We had been releasing the 2G tapes… We have released five tapes so far and still have tapes related to T R Baalu pending. I will have a press conference after the final tape gets released. I will not speak until that time. He cannot escape anywhere. All these things are just the height of arrogance. People are watching. If Baalu thinks he is a big politician because of his age, then it is wrong,” he said. As a retort to Baalu's experience taunts, Annamalai said just because crows are present in large numbers, the bird was not made the national bird. Still, the peacock was chosen because of its nature and elegance, he said. “If Baalu thinks he knows everything because he has been in politics for over 50 years and no one, whether Annamalai or the BJP, should question him… He is not someone who rules here; we are not his slaves. In the upcoming days, we will raise more tough questions against him. After the conclusion of the nine tapes of 'DMK Files' Part 3, we will see whether Baalu survives in politics,” he said. Annamalai had earlier slammed Baalu for allegedly insulting the Dalit community in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour. On Tuesday, a furore erupted in the Lok Sabha when Baalu, who was raising questions related to central assistance to Tamil Nadu for damages caused by two cyclones last December, said Dalit BJP leader L Murugan, who serves as Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was unfit to be an MP or a minister.
