As Annamalai keeps guns trained on AIADMK, ties sour further, some in TN BJP puzzled
AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami calls state BJP president “immature”, dismisses his corruption allegations against DMK
Palaniswami and Annamalai, both hailing from western Tamil Nadu, are believed to have maintained camaraderie for about one-and-a-half years. After Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai threatened to “expose corruption” by all parties that have ruled the state, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has said he has little interest in discussing an “immature leader” and even refused to back him on his allegations of graft by the AIADMK’s biggest rival, the DMK. Annamalai’s attacks on the AIADMK have left some in the state BJP puzzled.
Annamalai has been vociferously opposing a tie-up with the AIADMK, which helped BJP win four seats in the last Assembly polls. His latest remarks on corruption, made during the release of his “DMK Files” on Friday, have strained the fraying relationship even further. His status as leader of the BJP state unit is said to be precarious.
Speaking to reporters in Salem town on Saturday night, Palaniswami said Annamalai was engaging in self-promotion and attempting to become famous by giving interviews to the media.
Annamalai released the “DMK Files” two days back, alleging corruption and massive accumulation of wealth by the party. He said he would expose corruption by not just DMK, but all parties that had ruled the state. “DMK Files will not end with a single party, but every party that ruled the state will be exposed before 2024… if I am going to expose corruption, I will have to expose the corruption of everyone,” he said.
On Saturday night, Palaniswami refused to accept Annamalai’s “DMK Files”, stating that he was unaware of any corruption list and that it was merely a list of assets belonging to DMK leaders. “People who work in political parties should know the elementary things. I am ready to answer but on the condition that I will be asked about mature politicians,” Palaniswami said.
Palaniswami and Annamalai, both hailing from western Tamil Nadu, are believed to have maintained camaraderie for about one-and-a-half years.
Their relationship soured last month after some BJP leaders who joined AIADMK received a royal welcome even though they had left the national party after levelling serious charges against Annamalai. Now, Annamalai has failed to garner the support of the AIADMK, the principal Opposition party, after releasing the alleged corruption list of DMK leaders, which he estimated at Rs 1.34 lakh crore.
Some in the state BJP seem surprised at Annamalai’s actions. “If you ask us precisely, we do not know what is happening at this end; we do not know what and how Delhi is seeing this approach of the BJP state president. He is seemingly on a rampage to burn all bridges,” said a senior BJP leader from Coimbatore.
AIADMK spokesperson and former minister D Jayakumar also said veiled threats would not work with his party “even if it is from BJP”. Meanwhile, K P Munusamy, another veteran AIADMK leader, questioned whether Annamalai was levelling these accusations as a BJP state president or in his personal capacity.
A source in the state BJP claimed everything was not fine with Annamalai’s leadership. “I understand that Delhi is not in favour of what Annamalai does. If the situation worsens further, he could be on his way out in the next one or two months, as we can’t afford to risk the 2024 general polls,” he said.
Last month, Annamalai made a strong pitch against “corruption and deception of political system” and the “cycle of voters’ bribery” in elections in the state. He created a stir by holding that the AIADMK was also under a cloud in this regard even as he urged his party to sever its ties with its key Dravidian ally ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Annamalai claimed he would step down and work as an ordinary karyakarta (worker) if the party’s central leadership forces him to be a part of such an alliance.
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