O Panneerselvam lashes out at AIADMK, asks will party replace Palaniswami at BJP's behest

O Panneerselvam/ X

Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam, lashing out against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), asked if they would accept if the Bharatiya Janata Party sought to replace its general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami.

What warranted expelled leader Panneerselvam's attack on the AIADMK were reports that the party asked the saffron party to remove K Annamalai as its state president, according to a report in ANI. He further claimed that the BJP leadership has been in constant touch with him.

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OPS was expelled from the primary membership of AIADMK and from the post of treasurer in July last year. He was expelled by Palaniswami while he was the interim general secretary. The former sought relief from the Madras High Court, but his plea was rejected as the court said it couldn't interfere in "squabbles" of the political party.

Panneerselvam was quoted in the report as saying, "The BJP leadership has been in regular touch with me (in recent times). Will the AIADMK accept if the BJP asks for replacing (AIADMK general secretary) Palaniswami? Will they replace him? Then how can they ask to change BJP State Leadership? What rights do they have?"

AIADMK refutes claims

Refuting reports of AIADMK seeking BJP chief's removal, the party's Deputy General Secretary KP Munuswamy told reporters on Thursday that the party will not commit such a mistake ever and called it "childish".

The report quoted him saying, "It is childish to even ask if such a large party like AIADMK would seek the removal of the party's state president. We will never commit such a mistake."

While speaking to reporters in Krishnagiri, days after AIADMK parted ways with BJP, Munuswamy said the party will form its alliance and face the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the 2026 Tamil Nadu State Assembly polls.

BJP refuses to give up

However, the BJP Central leadership is not giving up on their bond with AIADMK despite the southern party calling off the alliance. BJP leader CT Ravi told ANI that they have only eight months left and that no comment can be made on what will transpire in the time frame. He further added that it was every worker's duty to strengthen the party. "Under the leadership of K Annamalai a great work of strengthening the party is being done," he said.

What sparked the friction?

Reportedly, BJP state chief K Annamalai made statements on former CMs of Tamil Nadu--C Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa--who were leaders of AIADMK. The friction eventually led to AIADMK announcing its separation from BJP on September 25. They accused BJP's state leadership of disrespecting its senior leaders.