Tamil Nadu: Modi Visit May Be Pivotal For Decision On AIADMK-BJP Alliance As He Is Expected To Take Ground Level Feedback

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state today (8 April) would be mainly about the inauguration of infrastructure projects like the newly built integrated terminal of the Chennai airport and the launch of the Coimbatore-Chennai Vande Bharat express, it is also politically significant due to the ongoing tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

While Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), the newly appointed general secretary of the AIADMK, has kept saying that the alliance would continue and any decision would be taken by the national leadership of the BJP, state president K Annamalai has indicated that he would prefer the party to contest alone.

He had reportedly offered to resign from his post, if the party decided to continue the alliance.

According to political commentators, while Annamalai has clearly indicated his stance, the BJP top brass comprising PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda may want to take more time and feedback before taking a decision on the alliance.

The current tussle between BJP and ADMK started after BJP leaders like CTR Nirmal Kumar, the head of the party's IT Wing and Dilip Kannan, a state secretary, who left the party citing problems with the state leadership, especially Annamalai, were welcomed into the AIADMK by EPS.

Annamalai has set a lofty target of winning 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state to strengthen the hands of PM Modi in his third term, and believes that the 2024 election is more important for the BJP, than for the AIADMK or other regional parties.

He has also advocated for clean politics, sans the distribution of cash or freebies, which according to some political commentators may not be possible in an alliance with the AIADMK.