CHENNAI: The AIADMK and BJP appear to have buried the hatchet after a war of words between leaders of both the parties for the past few days.
The allies, BJP and AIADMK, extended olive branches to each other on Sunday with the parties restraining their functionaries from attacking each other. “We have put an end to the war of words,” said former AIADMK minister D Jayakumar.
The AIADMK, however, maintained th at it was the principal opposition party and it has been effectively discharging duties in the opposition role. “Every party has a right to aspire for growth. Others cannot intervene in their pursuit for growth. At the same time, it is an indisputable fact that it is the AIADMK, which enjoys mass support,” Jayakumar said.
While Jayakumar said there was no ₹major’ rift between the two parties, BJP state president K Annamalai said the saffron party functionaries have been asked not to criticise the AIADMK. Annamalai said more than being a mere alliance partner, the AIADMK had stood on the side of the BJP for the past several years and has supported it in the passage of several bills.
“AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami have clarified that it was the personal views of those who attacked the BJP and not that of the party,” he said. “There is no rift or confusion between us,” he said.
Annamalai sa id the BJP does not intend to grow at the cost of the AIADMK.
He said that 70 % of voters were against DMK in TN and that the BJP has space to grow in the state. “So, I will not accep t the views of Ponnaiyan (AIADMK organising secretary) that BJP was pushing down AIADMK. That’s not our intention,” he said.
