Per insider reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is displaying unwavering support for K Annamalai, who holds the position of Tamil Nadu party chief, even in the wake of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) severing its political ties with the BJP. The AIADMK's decision to part ways with the BJP stemmed from a contentious episode involving a statement made by Annamalai.
Sources divulged to India Today that despite the AIADMK's insistence on an apology from Annamalai regarding his comments on Dravidian luminary CN Annadurai, the BJP has firmly rejected the notion of his resignation as the state party chief. Furthermore, sources indicate that the BJP has no intentions of approaching the AIADMK to reconsider its stance on this matter.
The AIADMK made its separation from the BJP official following a meeting convened at the party's headquarters in Tamil Nadu, citing the BJP's unwarranted criticisms of AIADMK's past leaders as the impetus. K P Munusamy, representing the AIADMK, was quoted by ANI as saying, "AIADMK unanimously passed a resolution in the meeting. AIADMK is breaking all ties with the BJP and the NDA alliance from today. The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about our former leaders, our general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, and our cadres for the past year."
The resolution, while not explicitly naming individuals, condemned the recent actions of the BJP's state leadership, which were characterized as defamatory towards the revered Dravidian figure, the late CN Annadurai, and the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The resolution also cited criticism of AIADMK's policies.
The contentious comments that ignited this political discord were made by BJP leader Annamalai on September 11, wherein he alleged that Annadurai had insulted Hinduism during an event in Madurai back in 1956. According to Annamalai, Annadurai had to take refuge in Madurai following the incident and was only able to resume travel after issuing an apology.
Despite the escalating controversy surrounding his remarks about the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Annamalai has remained steadfast in refusing to issue an apology. He has consistently maintained that his statements about Annadurai were not derogatory and merely recounted an incident from 1956, while also asserting that there are no fundamental issues between his party and the AIADMK.
