Chennai: The BJP-AIADMK relations hit a new low with Union minister Pon. Radhakrishnan on Saturday declaring that the AIADMK “is in ruins” and the AIADMK treasurer ‘Dindigul’ C. Seenivasan responding with a two-page statement slamming the saffron party for ‘poking its nose in other parties’ affairs’.
The AIADMK functionary, who is also a state minister, later told reporters it was absurd to run down the AIADMK ignoring the historic truth that the party enjoyed the largest following in Tamil Nadu. Party founder MGR was CM thrice and Amma (Jayalalithaa) six times. "The AIADMK is people's party. We are the people and people are the AIADMK", Seenivasan declared.
In his statement, he said the AIADMK had overcome numerous challenges in the past. The party is beyond religion and caste, he said in an apparent dig at the BJP.
He also did not forget to say that the AIADMK would "continue to march under the leadership of general secretary Chinnamma ( Sasikala)", whose intentions to take over as Chief Minister was the root of the conflict between the two parties.
Party sources said after Jayalalithaa's death, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu advised Sasikala to bring O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister and dissuaded her from aspiring for the top post as it could lead to dissent in the party. Besides, the verdict in the disproportionate assets against her was still pending in the Supreme Court, Naidu reportedly pointed out.
However, Sasikala's family considered the Chief Minister's chair as a protective shield against a possible adverse verdict and if the judgment did not go her way, to at least gain 'A' class facilities in the jail, sources said.
The outburst of Sasikala's husband M. Natarajan at a function in Thanjavur a few weeks ago, that the ruling party at the centre was plotting to split the AIADMK, was the first signs of rift. He asserted that the 'saffron machinations' would not succeed in the Dravidian land. Though, he flung a rider that PM Narendra Modi "is a good man", he left a message that the rest of the saffron brigade is rotten.
Immediately after Sasikala's election as general secretary, the party began facing rude jolts.
The first of it was seen at the Marina, in a revolt by former OPS, who spoke against her after a 40-minutes penance. Informed sources said OPS, who was 'collaborating' with Sasikala after Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation, began his act only after receiving the green signal from the BJP leadership.
There was a burst of excitement in the Tamil Nadu political scene and there were expectations that OPS, with support from Delhi, would consolidate his position and that Sasikala's group would be marginalised.
The second jolt came from the Supreme Court sentencing Sasikala to four years in jail in the disproportionate assets case. However, Natarajan in a skilful damage control exercise, retained the support of 122 MLAs by herding them in the Koovathur resort to hoist loyalist Edappadi K. Palanisami in the Chief Minister's chair and push OPS out.
Though Edappadi was given audience with the Prime Minister and other ministers, Pon Radhakrishnan came out with an immediate rebuttal of the Chief Minister's stand on the Neduvasal hydrocarbon project indicating there was no great warm between their two parties. And now his remark that the AIADMK is in ruins appears a clear indication that the relationship has hit the rock bottom.
