New Delhi: In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has opted to break its ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and withdraw from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 general elections. The decision was made after a resolution was approved during a meeting led by the party’s general secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami, marking a significant transformation in the state’s political arena.
The announcement has sparked jubilant celebrations at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai.
Speaking to media persons, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator K P Munusamy said: “The AIADMK has collectively endorsed a resolution during the meeting. We are officially ending all associations with the BJP and NDA alliance, effective immediately. Over the past year, the state BJP leadership has consistently made unwarranted comments about our previous leaders, our general secretary EPS, and our party members.”
Chennai, Tamil Nadu | K P Munusamy, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator says, "AIADMK unanimously passed a resolution in the meeting. AIADMK is breaking all ties with BJP and NDA alliance from today. The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about our… pic.twitter.com/HSx3NJKKOJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2023
Two weeks ago, BJP Tamil Nadu president Annamalai had stirred controversy with his remarks made in Madurai regarding C N Annadurai, first chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and a respected figure in the state’s political history. Referring to a 1956 speech by Annadurai where he criticised the Hindu faith, Annamalai sought to highlight the fact that freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar had strongly opposed Annadurai’s views.
Muthuramalinga Thevar is a prominent figure within the Other Backward Class (OBC) Thevar community. These remarks, seen as a direct challenge to the valued traditions of the AIADMK, further escalated the already strained relations within the coalition.