The stage is set for the AIADMK’s return to the NDA fold as the BJP’s main character, its state president K Annamalai, leaves the scene. Annamalai’s exit is the pound of flesh extracted by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami from the BJP national leadership.
After trying to build the BJP in Tamil Nadu at the expense of the AIADMK, Annamalai, who saw moderate success, will likely make way for a leader more acceptable to Palaniswami. Though Palaniswami is still in denial mode on a re-alliance with the BJP, the latter's leadership is saying that talks are in the process and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Tamil Nadu.
After being in alliance in 2019 (Lok Sabha) and 2021 (Assembly) elections, the AIADMK came out of the NDA alliance as Annamalai was extremely critical of the Dravidian icons, including AIADMK leaders MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. While Annamalai thought he could build the national party in Tamil Nadu without the support of the Dravidian parties, Palaniswami decided the AIADMK could do better by shedding the excess baggage of the BJP, which, in his view, was riding piggyback. Also, resentment among AIADMK cadre was building up against the high-handed ways of Annamalai and his apparent contempt for AIADMK leaders
Eventually, both were proved wrong as the two parties fared badly at the hustings in last year's Lok Sabha polls. Now, they both need each other for support, survival in the state and to oust the DMK, which is in power currently. And, as part of the reconciliation, Palaniswami’s demand, when he met Shah in Delhi on March 25, is Annamalai‘s ouster as the president of the state unit, as he refused to deal with the latter.
Apart from the fact that both parties drew nil last year, they also fear the stability that the DMK led alliance has formed in the state, as also the party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin spearheading an opposition unity against delimitation, NEP, Hindi imposition and the Wakf Amendment Bill.
A new development in the state politics is that the actor Vijay has launched his new party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Though the actor is open to an alliance, when approached by AIADMK, various demands and hard bargain indicated a disinclination. Vijay himself declared a month ago that there was no question of alliance with AIADMK, perhaps as a way of negotiating for the deputy chief ministership. Nor did the Naam Tamilar Katchi of Seeman seem ready to align with the AIADMK.
There is also a growing restlessness within the party and some resent the lack of an alliance with the BJP. While the AIADMK is strong in the western regions of the state, BJP too has a good presence in the same region. Therefore, an alliance between the two would yield good dividends in terms of seats, is the thinking of some in AIADMK.
These circumstances led Palaniswami to rework his stand against the BJP and go for a reconciliation.
For the survival of the party, the AIADMK has to regain power in Tamil Nadu. The BJP on the other hand needs to stabilise its foothold in the state. So Annamalai had to go.
BJP is now hunting for a suitable state unit president. A strong contender is the BJP MLA and the party's state vice-president Nainar Nagendran, a former AIADMK minister in Jayalalithaa as well as O Panneerselvam governments, hailing from Tirunelveli. He was one of the ministers indicted in the disproportionate wealth cases.
Meanwhile, Annamalai, who the central leadership of the party supported when the AIADMK left NDA, is likely to be given a responsible position, given his influence on the youth.
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