Tamil Nadu: EPS Condemns Annamalai's Alleged Remarks On Jayalalitha; All Eyes On Future Of AlADMK-BJP Alliance

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami today (13 June) condemned remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai in an interview with the Times of India.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the party's district secretaries in which a resolution condemning Annamalai's remarks was passed, EPS said, "Amma served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for 16 years and brought many schemes for the welfare of the public and inspired other states to implement them. Without any political experience or maturity, BJP leader Annamalai has passed such comments intentionally (against Jayalalithaa) with a motive and the AIADMK strongly condemns it.”

While Annamalai did not name anyone, his reply to the question, "Would you agree that 1991-96 was among the worst period in terms of corruption?”, is being seen as directed at former AIADMK supremo and former chief minister, J Jayalalitha.

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.”

In response to the resolution passed by the AIADMK, Annamalai issued a statement in Tamil, in which he said that certain leaders had made comments without properly understanding his interview but he won't criticise by getting down to a low level.

Further, he said that his aim in politics is to provide clean and corruption free governance which would prioritise people's welfare instead of the historic trend of robbing people for five years after giving money to them in the elections.

He added that he is aware of 'alliance dharma' and the political history of the state but he is here to do politics as per his conscience and it was inappropriate to expect that an alliance partner would always say what the other partner wants.

Regarding his remarks in the interview, he said that if anyone felt that what he said was untrue and points out the error he would not hesitate to accept it.

While the tussle between the two parties started after BJP leaders like IT Wing head CTR Nirmal Kumar and state secretary Dilip Kannan who left the party citing differences with the state leadership, especially Annamalai, were warmly welcomed by EPS, a truce was seemingly reached in late April, after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda.

The latest episode has however restarted speculation regarding the future of the alliance.

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