Tamil Nadu: ‘Annamalai’s Remarks Not Properly Read’ Says BJP After Row Over His Alleged Remarks On AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalitha

In the latest instance of the ongoing tussle between alliance partners Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the party’s organising secretary D Jayakumar has criticised BJP state president K Annamalai for his remarks about former chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha, made in an interview to the Times of India.

While Annamalai did not refer to Jayalalitha by name, his reply to the question, “Would you agree that 1991-96 was among the worst period in terms of corruption?” Is at the centre of attention. (The 1991 election was won by the AIADMK-Congress alliance. The alliance secured 225 out of the state’s 234 seats)

He had replied, “Many administrations in TN have been corrupt. Former CM s have been convicted in court of law. That is why TN has become one of the most corrupt states. I would say it is number one in corruption.”

“Passing comments against a dead person, a leader, is highly condemnable. After 20 years, the BJP managed to win four seats in the (2021) assembly polls and it was due to the AIADMK. Can Annamalai deny that? It is due to the fact they are part of the AIADMK-led alliance that the BJP has an identity here. Amit Shah and (BJP President) J P Nadda should warn Annamalai, they should control him. If that does not happen, I do not wish to comment further, the party will take a call on the alliance in due time.”

Condemning Jayakumar’s remarks, BJP state vice president Karu Nagarajan in a press release said that Annamalai’s remarks were not properly read. Further, he added that Jayakumar may have been unhappy after Union Home Minister Amit Shah interacted with party functionaries of the Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency on 10 June, which Jayakumar’s son Jayavardhan reportedly wants to contest.

This comes after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) had said in April that he had no dispute with Annamalai.