Chennai: BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai appears to have softened his stance on AIADMK following a meeting between AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. When asked about the alliance between BJP and AIADMK, Annamalai remained tight-lipped.
Annamalai said that he had provided a comprehensive report to the party high command after conducting a detailed microanalysis of the political situation in Tamil Nadu. “It would be wrong for me to disclose what I spoke about. We have discussed in detail the present and future of Tamil Nadu and what is needed for the people’s welfare.
Annamalai, who had previously taken a firm stance against AIADMK, clarified that he harboured no personal grievances against any party or leader. “I have always been open about my stand. When I spoke in Delhi, I said that I am ready to even work as a cadre.
Sources in both the BJP and AIADMK suggest that the BJP leadership is keen on bringing AIADMK back into the NDA fold, even if it requires making leadership adjustments within the Tamil Nadu unit. This speculation gained further traction following the visit of senior AIADMK leader KA Sengottaiyan to Delhi.
Sengottaiyan, a veteran AIADMK leader from Erode, was once in contention for the chief ministerial post following J Jayalalithaa’s demise in 2017. His visit to Delhi, where he met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was closely followed by EPS’s meeting with Amit Shah, fueling speculation about the BJP’s strategy in Tamil Nadu.