Video of Shah-Tamilisai interaction sparks a row within Tamil Nadu BJP

On Wednesday, several BJP handles shared a video of an interaction between Shah and Tamilisai while on stage at Chandrababu Naidu’s swearing in as Andhra Pradesh CM.

Karthik Gopinath, state vice-president of the BJP’s social media cell, shared it with a caption: “That looks like a strong admonishment from Amit Shah ji to Tamilisai akka. But what could be the reason for this ‘public’ warning? Unwarranted public comments?”

Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan with Amit Shah at Naidu’s swearing-in. On Sunday, she redflagged ‘anti-social elements’ entering the BJP. (PTI)

Even the DMK weighed in, with its spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai posting online: “What kind of politics is this? Is it civilised to bring a senior woman leader from Tamil Nadu on stage and exhibit harsh words, with a threatening body language? Is Amit Shah unaware that everyone will be watching this? Sets a very wrong precedent.”

Speaking to a YouTube channel, Tamilisai had said, “I used to discourage and ignore anti-social elements from the party. But recently, a lot of such elements have entered the party and hold positions in some districts. Such practices should be prevented, and ordinary cadres who are working hard for the party should get their deserving space. That doesn’t mean that I think he (Annamalai) is a bad leader. Not at all, different leaders take decisions in different ways.”

On the issue of the alliance, she had said, “We are proud about the increase in vote share, our candidates pushing AIADMK to the third position in 12 seats and making them lose their deposit in several seats. But all these figures will be discussed only for a few days after polls. Winning is important. Without winning the election, we cannot get to the next step. Only if we win the election, we can work for them for five years… So being a people’s representative is very crucial. There is nothing wrong in making it with the help of a good alliance.”

Posting the video of her remarks, Tiruchy Suriyaa, the state general secretary of BJP’s OBC Morcha, asked if it was right for a former party chief to make such comments to the media. Suriyaa, known for his proximity to Annamalai, also said that people were not ready to join the BJP when Tamilisai was heading the party.

BJP's culture and attitude towards women.

Anyone with some self-respect will give it back to him and quit, @DrTamilisai4BJP. Being a qualified doctor and a former governor, you don't have to take such insults, that too from a history sheeter! pic.twitter.com/ME3vHMcs3A

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) June 12, 2024

“I will give a list if you want, of people with a criminal background who were included in BJP during the period of L Murugan (former state chief, union minister from Tamil Nadu), who was made the state president on your recommendation. It is obvious that you are insecure seeing the growth of the party and the attention going to a single leader (Annamalai). If there was an AIADMK alliance, it would have won more seats – is this your opinion, and isn’t it against the decision of the party?” he said.

A day after the poll results, Annamalai and the AIADMK leadership had been involved in a bitter exchange of words. The BJP leader said his party had come in second in a dozen seats, and pushing AIADMK to the third position itself is a victory. In response, senior AIADMK ministers, including R B Udhayakumar and S P Velumani, both of whom had suffered defeats, blamed Annamalai for their poor showing. While Udhayakumar said an AIADMK-BJP alliance could have won them at least 30 seats, Velumani placed the blame for the split squarely on Annamalai.