Coimbatore, Mar 31: Tamil Nadu BJP state president K. Annamalai on Sunday asserted that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement regarding the alliance with AIADMK should be considered final. Addressing the media in Coimbatore, he refused to elaborate further on the alliance issue.Annamalai defended the recent meeting between AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Amit Shah, stating that there was nothing unusual about an opposition leader meeting a Union Minister. He dismissed speculations of secret political negotiations, emphasizing that unlike the Congress, the BJP does not control Tamil Nadu’s politics from Delhi.
BJP Stance on AIADMK and Other Allies
Commenting on former AIADMK leader KA Sengottaiyan’s visit to Delhi, Annamalai clarified that the BJP does not interfere in the internal affairs of other parties. He reiterated that the party believes in organic growth rather than manipulating or weakening other political groups.
The BJP leader reaffirmed that former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran remain part of the BJP’s alliance. He also took a dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, pointing out that he received a low 27% approval rating in the recent C-Voter survey. Additionally, he questioned TVK leader Vijay’s stance on political issues.
Corruption Allegations and Crime Rate Concerns
Annamalai raised concerns over corruption in the MGNREGA scheme in Tamil Nadu, highlighting that the state received the highest allocation of ₹39,339 crore under the scheme over the last four years. He further alleged that crime rates have increased under the DMK government.
Annamalai Softens Stance on AIADMK
In a notable shift from his earlier position, Annamalai maintained that his primary focus is on the BJP’s growth in Tamil Nadu. He reiterated that he harbors no animosity towards any leader or party and that he has expressed his willingness to function as a party cadre if required.
Shah recently acknowledged that the BJP and AIADMK were engaged in formal discussions regarding an alliance for the 2026 assembly elections. Annamalai, while toning down his earlier rhetoric against AIADMK, maintained that he seeks to bring change to Tamil Nadu politics without creating unnecessary conflicts.