BJP breaketh and BJP maketh: How two factions of the AIADMK finally came together

The AIADMK had split into two after Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala Natarajan

For the first time after the AIADMK split into factions, leaders of either camp have agreed upon something. Full credit of the mutual agreement goes to the BJP.

Despite being a divided house, the AIADMK has decided to support NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind's candidature for the Presidential election. Two factions of the AIADMK led by Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palanisamy have agreed on an issue for the first time ever since its split. This decision is, however, said to have been taken after the BJP and its leaders intervened.

Despite a few MLAs supporting TTV Dinakaran claiming that they would support anyone that Sasikala Natarajan decides on, a major chunk of MLAs and MPs from the AIADMK under Panneerselvam, as well as Edappadi Palanisamy, have extended support to Kovind. The BJP was held responsible for the split in the party and management of the crisis ultimately united the camps on a common issue, the Presidential election.

The BJP is accused of splitting AIADMK

Despite being held responsible for the split in the AIADMK time and again, BJP has maintained that the crisis was an internal issue of the party. On February 8 earlier this year when Panneerselvam visited Jayalalithaa memorial, journalists were informed of a rebellion in the making by people sitting in Delhi. The message was clear that the rebellion had the backing of political strongmen at the centre.

Following the rebellion Panneerselvam and well as Edappadi Palanisamy, who was made the Chief Minister, took extra steps to remain close to the BJP. Not just did they make a beeline to meet BJP leaders but also ensured that they were in the good books of the BJP. While Panneerselvam is said to have kept in constant touch with BJP leadership, Palanisamy asked his ministers to refrain from criticising the BJP and took initiatives to hail projects introduced by the Narendra Modi government.

Both camps, in the absence of TTV Dinakaran and Sasikala Natarajan, strived to keep the BJP happy.
BJP leaders at the state and centre level, however, maintained that they had no control over the AIADMK and rubbished allegations of 'managing' the camps.

BJP managed to bring about consensus in both camps

With Dinakaran's return from Tihar jail, further split in the AIADMK became imminent, especially after he announced his intentions to return to party affairs after 60 days. An insecure Palanisamy is said to have gained confidence thanks to the BJP's backing. The AIADMK is crucial for the BJP in the Presidential elections and a split AIADMK is not what NDA could afford to settle for.

Both factions of the AIADMK decided to support the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Edappadi Palanisamy and Amit Shah spoke to Panneerselvam. While senior leaders of both factions maintain that the support was but natural since Jayalalithaa had also supported the NDA candidate last time, the dynamics of extending support has changed this time around. The BJP that is accused of widening the split in the AIADMK managed to bring about consensus. Both factions praising the BJP and its choice of Presidential candidate, as well as the attempts to send out a message that their camp was close to the BJP, did not go unnoticed.

Despite claiming to have nothing to do with the split, the BJP has managed to get what it set out to, AIADMK's 5.36 percent vote share in the Presidential Electoral College.

OneIndia News