Persisting Feud in AIADMK a Gain for BJP; ‘DMK Strong on Ideology’ Asserts Stalin

In a major political move in Tamil Nadu in recent days, the Madras High Court on August 17 ordered the maintenance of status quo as of June 23, 2022, in the affairs of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). This is a big setback for Edappadi K Palaniswamy, as the meeting which elected him interim General Secretary of the party on July 11 stands invalid.

This is a big win for the O Panneerselvam camp as the court said the executive council or general council should not be convened without the joint consent of the coordinator and joint coordinator.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers attacked the official vehicle of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on August 13. They threw a slipper at the car outside the Madurai Airport when the minister was returning after paying his last respects to the slain Rifleman D Lakshmanan.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 17 is also seen as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) going easy with the BJP, the ruling party in the Center. Stalin is said to have raised many issues concerning the state with the PM, besides thanking him for inaugurating the chess olympiad in Chennai last month.

RULING IN FAVOUR OF DMK AND BJP

The support of the majority of the AIADMK general council members was with Palaniswami in the July 11 general council meeting. Hardly 10 of the AIADMK’s 75 district secretaries supported Panneerselvam. Only five of the party’s 66 MLAs and less than 20% of the party’s General Council members backed him.

Many predicted that the leadership tussle in AIADMK had ended and that Palaniswami had emerged victorious.

End to leadership tussle meant that there would be an active opposition in the state, the fight would remain between the DMK and the AIADMK, and the communal BJP would be sidelined.

However, the recent Madras high court ruling proved otherwise. It may trigger another series of legal battles over supremacy in the AIADMK between the two leaders, leaving cadres in distress.

The ruling is a gain for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which claims they are the true opposition in Tamil Nadu because they are at loggerheads with the ruling DMK while AIADMK is busy.

In an interview with Liberty Tamil, senior journalist Mani said, “After Jayalalithaa’s death and Sasikala’s arrest, it has been BJP calling the shots in AIADMK. And the BJP was disappointed when EPS rose more powerful over OPS. They are not interested in a unitary leadership for AIADMK because they want to destroy all regional parties.”

He added, “The weakening of the primary opposition party AIADMK is dangerous for the secular political fabric of Tamil Nadu.”

Moreover, the court order is a gain for DMK, which will continue its tenure without a strong opposition while the AIADMK is occupied with its inner party feuds.

BJP VIOLENCE, DMK’S RESPONSE

BJP cadre allegedly protested against Thiaga Rajan and hurled footwear at his car after he objected to a large number of the party supporters gathering at the Madurai airport premises. A military salute was being given to Lakshmanan there, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a tweet posted on August 14, Thyagarajan hinted that Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai and other party members broke military protocols for a photo opportunity.

DMK general secretary Duraimurugan condemned the 'disgusting' and 'uncouth' act of the BJP. Chief minister Stalin guaranteed that "action will be taken against those who try to use anti-social elements to create unrest in Tamil Nadu."

However, as anticipated by many, BJP's violent act did not trigger any protests from the DMK cadre, nor did the party leaders call for agitations. Neither was action taken against the officials for providing weak security provisions to the minister.

Regarding this, Mani said, "The DMK leadership and the government in the state need to reorient their strategy. If they continue talking softly to these brutal forces, they cannot handle the woes."

"They are dealing with the successors of the Veel-less Savarkar. They should rethink whether sattvik responses to the people of Godse are apt," he added.

"The DMK, which was earlier an ideological team, has become a money-minded one. At times they have to take harch stands; they are not doing it," said journalist Shankar.

"Not many DMK ministers condemned BJP's act. Even Stalin responded to it only a day later; he should have attacked it immediately".

"PTR is one of the most popular and powerful ministers in the state, he has a legacy, and the DMK has given the space for BJP to the guts to throw a slipper at him," he added.

A day after the incident, BJP Madurai District president P Saravanan stepped down from the post and quit the party as he was disappointed with BJP's activities.

The BJP's women wing city secretary, who allegedly hurled the slipper at the convoy, was among the three women arrested by the city police on August 16 in connection with the case.

STALIN ASSERTS IDEOLOGY

Some developments in the state point to DMK and BJP having an undeclared bonhomie underway.

For instance, when CM Stalin and PM Modi came on the same platform for the first time in May 2022, the former asserted the true spirit of cooperative federalism. He said the Centre should increase funds and projects for the state and sought an exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET. But, while recently sharing the stage for the Chess Olympiad inauguration, Stalin was cordial with the PM.

However, R Vijaya Sankar, former editor of Frontline, told NewsClick, "There are different ways of responding. Running a state govt is a difficult task, and the DMK has its compulsions; they are also confined to one state. As a CM of the ruling party, Stalin has to be cautious. They depend on the Centre for funds, and they will have to go back to central government agencies and the PMO for them. Negotiations should go on."

He further added, "Stalin is very clear on his political stands. He keeps reiterating them from time to time. I also have information that he is in regular touch with Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar."

"BJP is waiting for provocation or violence to garner their growth, and the DMK is working to prevent such untoward acts," he said.

Following his visit to the PM, Stalin said, "DMK will always be grounded on its ideology. The party will not compromise with the RSS and the BJP."

Speaking at Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan's 60th birthday celebration on August 17, he reiterated, "There is a government-to-government relationship between the TN government and the Union government but no ties between the parties and their ideologies."