Why Has AIADMK Suddenly Decided To Maintain Distance From BJP?

AIADMK leader D Jayakumar on Monday announced that there is no alliance with the BJP at this stage and a decision in this regard will be taken during the elections.

"The BJP is not in alliance with AIADMK. We will decide about the alliance during the elections only," Jayakumar said. The latest development comes after Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai's comments on former Tamil Nadu CM Annadurai

"We can't accept continuous criticism on our leaders. Annamalai already criticised our leader Jayalalithaa. At that time, we passed a resolution against Annamalai. He should have stopped this. He is criticising Anna, Periyar and the general secretary. No cadre would accept this. Tomorrow we have to work on the field. So without any option, we announced this. There won't be any impact on us with this decision. We are confident of our victory," ANI quoted Jayakumar as saying.

So, what exactly went wrong?

Since Annamalai was made the TN Chief, the relationship between the saffron party and the AIADMK has been strained. On several occasions, the two-leaf party has slammed his remarks including his comments on former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa.

Days ago, leading a demonstration against Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu for his participation in the 'Sanatana Dharma' eradication conference, Annamalai had made a comment on Dravidian stalwart and late Chief Minister C N Annadurai.

The BJP leader said Anna had in the 1950s made a critical remark in Madurai against the Hindu faith at an event, and that it was staunchly opposed by freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.

As a result, a war of words has erupted between AIADMK leaders and BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai over his remark on C N Annadurai.

However, Annamalai defended his remarks and asked if what he had said about Anna was wrong. He asserted that he is in politics to protect Sanatana Dharma and Tamil culture.

"Look at history as history. I am very clear. Nowhere will I belittle anyone. I did not insult or underestimate anyone, anywhere; history should be spoken as it was and if it is not liked (by some people), it's okay," he said.

However, is this alone for the AIADMK to end the alliance? An article in the Deccan Herald gives a hint about what possibly went wrong in the alliance.

According to the article, AIADMK chief E Palani Swami met BJP Chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had met recently. It is speculated that the national party asked 15 out of 39 seats to contest in the next Lok Sabha polls. It has to be noted that the BJP

Although it remains unclear whether this figure accounts for the smaller NDA allies' share, the mention of 15 seats has garnered attention within political circles.

More importantly, the AIADMK cadre is not happy with the BJP as they feel the high command is not doing enough to prevent Annamalai from attacking the AIADMK. In fact, a growing number within the AIADMK suspect that the BJP leadership might be allowing Annamalai to confront the AIADMK.

The party workers are also aware of the fact that the BJP is still irrelevant in politics although Annamalai has visibly taken the post of Principal Opposition leader on some issues in the state politics in the last two years. They are of the view that the AIADMK can do better without the saffron party.

On the other hand, Annamalai is not happy to have an alliance with the AIADMK although his party leaders in the centre want to have ties with the two-leaves party.