Blow to BJP? AIADMK severs ties with NDA over Annamalai's remarks

Ahead of 2024 India's general elections, one of the parties in the ruling alliance has severed ties with it.

All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from the southern state of Tamilnadu on Monday (September 25) exited the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

This was to protest against state BJP leader's attacks and defamatory statements on AIADMK and their leaders, particularly by its chief Annamalai.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

AIADMK Deputy General Secretary KP Munusamy announced the decision after a resolution was passedunanimously at a meeting of MPs, MLAs and district heads at the party's headquarters in Chennai.

“The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks on our former leaders, our general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and our cadres for the past one year. In today’s meeting, this resolution was passed unanimously,” said the party.

What did Annamalai say?

At a BJP protest event earlier this month, Annamalai had said thatlate chief minister CN Annadurai insulted Hinduism at an event in Madurai in 1956.

AIADMK was founded by former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran based on the principles popularised by CN Annadurai.

In Annamalai's telling,in June 1956 in the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, a child sang a song from the Sangam era for Annadurai.

The Dravidian leader praised the child for singing well but then said had she shown her talent centuries ago,a story would have been spun of how she was only able to sing divinely because she consumed the holy milk provided by Goddess Umaiyaval.

After Annamalai's remarks, AIADMK leaders said the BJP leader had "deliberately insulted" the Dravidian stalwart.

"The Dravidian movement has given life to us all. Anna gave everyone opportunities and equal rights to women and gave the name Tamil Nadu to this state,"AIADMK MP CV Shanmugam had said at the time.

"You (Annamalai) are not eligible to speak about Anna. Even after being in alliance, Annamalai is speaking ill of Perarignar Anna. Earlier, he critiqued Amma (Jayalalithaa) and now Anna."

Watch |Indian opposition parties form ‘INDIA’ alliance for 2024 election

Annamalai dodged media questions on AIADMK going its separate way.

Despite aligning with the BJP, AIADMK has had a horror showingin the past elections.

It lost overwhelmingly in the 2019 Lok Sabha election where itonly garnered one seat. Later in the state elections of 2021, it fell to 75 seats from 135 seats five years ago.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: