NEW DELHI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has called the reunion of its arch-rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with the BJP a “most expected” move, as AIADMK general secretary Edapaddi K Palaniswami “fell at BJP’s feet.”
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan told news agency ANI, “This was most expected. They (AIADMK) were afraid of the BJP. When BJP put pressure on Edappadi’s son and relatives, he thought he has to save them. So, he fell at BJP’s feet.”
The DMK leader continued, “He (Palaniswami) thought he is very strong. But we knew that ultimately, he will fall at BJP’s feet. That is what has happened. They (AIADMK-BJP) were together in 2021 (Tamil Nadu assembly elections) too, but we won.”
On “Thalapathy” Vijay, Elangovan noted that the actor-politician’s newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam will benefit the DMK by splitting opposition votes in next year’s assembly polls.
He stated, “Vijay will contest separately. If he does so, he will take a share if their (opposition) votes because DMK votes will solidly come to DMK, opposition votes will split. That will do more good to us.”
AIADMK returns to NDA
The alliance was announced by Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah in Chennai, where he declared that Palaniswami will be the leader of the alliance in Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
The AIADMK, Shah stated, did not have any pre-condition to reunite with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, from which it had split in September 2023.
