ADMK’s gesture hints at likely pact with BJP

The messages sent by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy and his deputy O Panneerselvam (who is also the coordinator of the AIADMK) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah congratulating them on the Hindutva party’s performance in the Karnataka Assembly election has given credence to reports that the AIADMK and the BJP may forge an alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

More than the messages, it is the wording of the congratulation message by Panneerselvam that has caught the attention of political Tamil Nadu. “I would like to share my joy on this momentous occasion and convey my heartiest congratulations on the resounding victory of the BJP in Karnataka Assembly Elections. Your diligent and conscientious efforts not only yielded the desired fruits in the 15th State but also added another feather on your cap of glory,” OPS said in the message to Prime Minister Modi.

But his message to party president Amit Shah was revealing what meets the ordinary eyes. “On this cheerful occasion, I wish to express my warm greetings and felicitations for the significant victory of the BJP in Kanataka Assembly Elections, bellwethering a grand entry to South India,” reads the message, copies of which were circulated in social media.

But the messages turned out to be preposterous as the BJP could not score the required number of seats for absolute majority and ended up just as the single largest party in the House.

The overjoy and enthusiasm visible in Panneerselvam’s message is seen as the AIADMK cosying up to the BJP. Though there is no formal alliance between the two parties, it is an open secret that both are natural allies because of the Hindutva stance, though indirectly, of the AIADMK. The entire Opposition in Tamil Nadu is worried over the entry of the BJP into the political vacuum left by the demise of Jayalalithaa and the exit of DMK chief M Karunanidhi from active politics.

“The BJP is trying to piggyride into Tamil Nadu on the shoulders of the AIADMK. Both Palaniswamy and Panneerselvam are serving the interests of the BJP,” alleges Stalin on a daily basis. Though the AIADMK leadership stoutly denies this charge, it has not been taken seriously by the Opposition. 

Fisheries Minister and spokesman of the Government D Jayakumar had made it  known on Sunday that the AIADMK does not have any kind of political tie-up with the BJP. “Ours is a Government-to-Government relation for implementing the projects in the State.

We will oppose the Centre when we need to. There will not be any political ties under any circumstances,” Jayakumar had announced on Sunday. The AIADMK’s soft corner for BJP is also seen as the continuation of party founder MGR’s policy of not fighting with “Delhi”. The party has not uttered a word against the Congress in the recent past too.