25-09-2023 : The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has made a significant decision that marks the end of a tumultuous relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a unanimous resolution passed, the AIADMK officially severed all ties with the BJP and the NDA, effective from Monday.
The decision comes as a culmination of strained relations between the two parties, primarily due to what the AIADMK perceives as unwarranted and derogatory remarks made by the state leadership of the BJP about their former leaders, including General Secretary K Palaniswami, and AIADMK cadres over the past year. KP Munuswamy, a prominent AIADMK leader, announced the resolution and cited the continuous attacks on the legacy of former Chief Minister Jayalalitha and Annadurai as a key reason for the decision.
According to Munuswamy, the state BJP leadership within the NDA had intentionally targeted the AIADMK and its leadership. He mentioned that the criticism extended to AIADMK’s conference held in Madurai on August 20, which deeply hurt the sentiments of AIADMK cadres.
The decision to break ties with the BJP and the NDA was reached during a meeting attended by AIADMK Party Secretaries, District Secretaries, Parliament Members, and Assembly Members at the party’s headquarters in Chennai on Monday. This move signifies a significant shift in political alignments in Tamil Nadu.
The relationship between the AIADMK and the BJP had been deteriorating over the past few months, and on September 18, AIADMK officially announced the cessation of their alliance. They alleged that BJP State President Annamalai had crossed the boundaries of the alliance’s principles, and AIADMK leaders strongly criticized Annamalai for his remarks about Annadurai and Periyar.
The deteriorating ties between the two parties were evident in their frequent public exchanges on social media, and leaders from both sides refrained from commenting on the alliance in public.
In an attempt to address the strained relationship, top AIADMK leaders, including C V Shanmugam, Thambidurai, SP Velumani, Thangamani, KP Munusamy, and Natham Viswanathan, held a meeting with BJP leaders in Delhi on September 22. However, sources suggested that the meeting did not yield any favorable outcomes, leading to the official termination of the alliance.
The AIADMK’s decision to part ways with the BJP and the NDA reflects the complexities of coalition politics in India and the importance of maintaining mutual respect and understanding within political alliances. It also sets the stage for potential realignments and new political dynamics in Tamil Nadu, a state known for its ever-evolving political landscape.