The Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) finds itself in a precarious state of affairs in Tamil Nadu the place it’s eyeing an enlargement, forward of the 2024 basic elections, however with out antagonising ally All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
At the same time as BJP’s state unit president Okay Annamalai on Wednesday went on report to rule out any friction between the allies over a dozen get together leaders switching sides to the AIADMK, get together functionaries in Delhi mentioned the central management is “involved” over the developments unfolding within the coastal state.
BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, who spoke to HT on situation of anonymity, mentioned they’re anticipating the central management to step in with an olive department to iron out the variations between the 2 companions that would wreck the get together’s electoral plans for the 2024 basic elections.
On Wednesday, 13 members of the BJP’s IT Cell stop the get together to affix the AIADMK, days after former state IT wing chief CTR Nirmal Kumar left on a bitter observe, alleging that the state management had sidestepped the pursuits of the get together cadre.
On Kumar’s exit, Annamalai had mentioned, “…1000’s of individuals be part of a celebration and tons of of individuals depart a celebration. That’s how politics is meant to be.”
Whereas the central management has thrown its weight behind Annamalai who took over as state unit president in 2021, a senior chief mentioned there’s a “concern” over the “deteriorating” ties between the allies.
“There’s some concern over how the state management will must be guided. Whereas we see the get together rising within the state due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputation, there is no such thing as a denying that we nonetheless have to nurture our alliance with the AIADMK. And it rests on the state management to carry the alliance collectively,” mentioned a second chief, additionally looking for anonymity.
The chief added that Annamalai’s completely different fashion of functioning, as in comparison with earlier state unit presidents, has raised eyebrows as some get together previous timers complained of not being consulted and missed.
“Some people who find themselves not accustomed to his fashion have had difficulties with him. With the AIADMK, too, there was some distinction of opinion, some name it ego points, with each the EPS (E Palaniswami) and OPS (Panneerselvam) factions,” mentioned the second chief.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer, is understood for his combative posturing, and typically aggressive stance on points. Get together leaders quoted above concurred that his management has helped BJP discover a toehold within the political narrative and drive the agenda. However there’s a concern that if the get together doesn’t sew the variations with the AIADMK in time, its combat towards the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won’t be simple.
“He’s not like earlier leaders comparable to Tamilsai Soundararajan, Pon Radhakrishnana and L Ganesan who’re all governors now. They needed to run the get together when AIADMK was in energy within the state and Congress was in energy on the Centre. When Annamalai took over, DMK was in energy in Tamil Nadu and BJP on the Centre, and for him to take an aggressive posture and be in an assault mode has labored to his benefit as individuals like a powerful opponent. However our enemy will not be the AIADMK, however the DMK,” the primary chief mentioned.
The primary chief additionally identified that cases of BJP youth wing cadre protesting towards EPS after the state unit president accused him of “poaching” BJP leaders didn’t go down effectively with a bit of BJP leaders. “The AIADMK management has additionally modified, so now we have to work with the brand new set of leaders,” the chief mentioned.
Whereas the BJP has tried to convey collectively the 2 AIADMK factions – led by EPS and OPS – that have been at odds over management of the get together, and was seen to be nearer to OPS, it’s now sustaining a distance from the get together’s inner points.