'Only In EPS's Head': Annamalai Denies 'Secret Pact' Allegations With DMK, Says BJP Just Gave Respect To Karunanidhi

The president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit, K Annamalai denied Edapadi K Palanisamy’s (EPS) allegations of a 'secret pact' between BJP and ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Annamalai said that such a pact is only in the head of the opposition leader EPS and explained that the Union government releasing a commemorative coin for the birth centenary of DMK leader M Karunanidhi is just a custom.

"This was done for Kamaraj aiya, Annadurai aiya and Rajagopalachari aiya," he said suggesting that all of them have been the Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu and similarly, Karunanidhi is a five-time CM.

Annamalai said that while the BJP has ideological differences with the DMK, it gives respect where it belongs, referring to the commemoration of Rs 100 coin for Karunanidhi by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

He called the political parties shouting against this 'political decency' 'jobless'. He emphasised that in the federal structure, cooperation is needed and the Centre is giving respect to regional sentiments.

"The same honour was given to (AIADMK leader) MGR (Ramachandran). We were not in an alliance then. Why are they not talking about it? We feel sorry that politics has so degenerated," Annamalai added.

He asserted that the BJP has an open relationship with all political parties and it is the party's 'basic decency' as it aspires to come to power in Tamil Nadu.

He claimed that the people of Tamil Nadu appreciated this gesture of the BJP and it shows the party's commitment to taking all voices along.