Controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu as senior leaders from both the DMK and AIADMK responded sharply to remarks made by the BJP state president, K Annamalai, regarding the removal of Dravidian icon and social reformist Thanthai Periyar’s statue from in front of temples in the state, should the BJP come to power.
Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, P K Sekarbabu, unequivocally dismissed the possibility of the BJP ever coming to power in Tamil Nadu, saying, “Even if the sun rises in the west, the BJP will not come to power in Tamil Nadu.” He highlighted the prevailing political climate in the state, which strongly suggests that the DMK is the dominant political force, and no other party is likely to form the government for the next quarter century.
DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi also ridiculed Annamalai’s remarks, stating that the saffron party leader’s dreams would never materialize in the state. She dismissed his comments as lacking credibility and insisted that such changes would never occur.
Joining the fray, senior leaders of the AIADMK criticized Annamalai for his statements about dismantling the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department once the BJP comes to power. D Jayakumar, a prominent AIADMK figure, warned that the BJP leader’s remarks could backfire and advised against speaking out against Dravidian icons and leaders from the past.