Latest news with #AIADMK-BJP
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
AIADMK's Muslim face Anwhar Raajhaa joins DMK, says his former party is ‘now in hands of the BJP'
Raajhaa was expelled from the AIADMK minutes before he joined the DMK. In a statement, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi (EPS) said that Anwhar Raajhaa has been removed from the party's primary membership for acting contrary to the party's 'principles and goals'. Chennai: Disillusioned with the party's alliance with the BJP, former MP Anwhar Raajhaa, the Muslim face of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), joined the rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Monday. At the DMK's headquarters, he said that he was deeply pained that what was once a strong party is now in the hands of the BJP. 'Whichever party joined hands with the AIADMK, it was the senior player and other parties will heed to the words of AIADMK and not the other way round. But, now the AIADMK is listening to the BJP's words and the AIADMK is in the BJP's hands,' Raajhaa told the reporters. This is not the first time that Raajhaa has criticised the AIADMK-BJP alliance. In 2021, after the AIADMK lost the general elections, he openly criticised and Edappadi K Palaniswami joint leadership for joining hands with the BJP and losing the assembly election. The AIADMK's former organising secretary had expressed concerns over the BJP's agenda to come to power in Tamil Nadu at the cost of the party. In 2021, at the party's district secretaries meeting, he had expressed concerns over alienating the minority voters from the AIADMK. Now after joining the DMK, he alleged that the BJP's agenda is to destroy the AIADMK and take over the opposition place to fight the Stalin-led party. 'We have seen what happened in West Bengal, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In Tamil Nadu, their agenda is to dismantle the AIADMK and take that position in the state to fight against the ruling DMK,' Raajhaa told ThePrint. He also accused EPS of not being able to assert his own position as the chief ministerial candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). 'Amit Shah has been reiterating that it would be a NDA-led coalition government in which the BJP will be part of it. No where Amit Shah has said that EPS is their chief ministerial candidate. Even Edappadi K Palaniswami himself has not been able to assert that he is the chief minister candidate of the NDA. Such is the state of the party,' Raajhaa told ThePrint. In December 2021, then AIADMK's coordinator and joint coordinator Edappadi had expelled Raajhaa from the party positions after he criticised the leadership for the AIADMK-BJP alliance. However, later in 2023, he was again admitted into the party, after the AIADMK severed its ties with the BJP in September 2023. Anwhar Raajhaa's political journey began after he joined the DMK in 1960s after being part of the anti-Hindi agitations and later joined the AIADMK when former chief minister M.G. Ramachandran founded the party in 1972. Between 1986 and 2001, Raajhaa was the chairman of Mandapam village union in Ramanathapuram district. In 2001, he contested from Ramanathapuram and won the election. He was the labour and employment minister between 2001 and 2006. Later, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he successfully contested from Ramanathapuram. Stating that he tried his best to save the AIADMK, Raajhaa told ThePrint that his voice was not heard. 'That's what forced me to join DMK. I am sure Thalapathy (Stalin) would become the chief minister once again,' he added. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: 24 deaths since 2021, no convictions: Custodial violence has left a blood trail in Tamil Nadu
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Edappadi delivers a stern message to ally BJP on coalition government issue
CHENNAI: Even as a section of the BJP leaders continues to insist that a coalition government will be formed after the 2026 Assembly election, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami may have put an end to speculations, delivering what analysts say is a stern message to the BJP that the AIADMK will independently form the government. Speaking at an AIADMK meeting in Thiruthuraipoondi (Tiruvarur district) on Saturday night, Palaniswami said, 'They (the DMK) are saying that in the AIADMK-BJP alliance, we will share power if we form the government. Mr Stalin, let me make this clear: We are not gullible. The AIADMK will win the polls with a majority and form the government on its own.' Palaniswami said the BJP joined the AIADMK-led alliance to unseat the DMK government, which is 'corrupt and anti-people'. 'Unlike you, we are not desperate to bring our heir to power. It is the will of the people that matters, and we will fulfil that,' he added. Although Palaniswami aimed the comments at DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin, political analysts said that this was, in fact, a stern message to the BJP, whose leaders continue to claim that a coalition government will be formed in the state. Quick on damage control, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran called up Palaniswami and discussed the remarks. Answering queries from reporters in Nagapattinam, Nagenthran denied any ulterior motive to EPS' remarks. Palaniswami had said that he was only responding to the campaign of the DMK that 'the BJP would swallow the AIADMK since the party has been mortgaged', said Nagenthran.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rift between AIADMK and BJP widening, say CPI & CPM state secretaries
COIMBATORE/TIRUVARUR: The rift within the AIADMK-BJP alliance is widening, said CPI state secretary R Mutharasan and CPI (M) state secretary P Shanmugam on Saturday. The left leaders cited the lack of unanimity among AIADMK and BJP leaders on the goal of forming a coalition government by both the allies in the state after the next Assembly poll. 'Amit Shah states that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will form a coalition government, while Edappadi K Palaniswami asserts that he is the chief ministerial candidate. Cracks are widening daily within the AIADMK-BJP alliance,' Mutharasan said in Coimbatore while referring to the different stands of the BJP leader and AIADMK general secretary. Mutharasan was in Coimbatore to attend CPI's district conference. 'Does Palaniswami encourage BJP's New Education Policy and misuse of investigative agencies such as ED, NIA, etc?' Mutharasan asked while also recalling that former Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa had vowed the AIADMK would not form an alliance with the BJP henceforth. Mutharasan hoped Edappadi K Palaniswami would hold a clean campaign in the run-up to the election. Speaking to reporters in Tiruvarur, CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam, meanwhile, accused Palaniswami of supporting all anti-people, -farmer and -state actions of the BJP-led union government. 'Edappadi should apologise to farmers for supporting the anti-farmer laws,' the CPI(M) leader demanded. Shanmugam claimed the National Democratic Alliance in the state is torn by confusion. 'Like Amit Shah, BJP's former state leader K Annamalai and others are also asserting there will be a coalition government in Tamil Nadu. But Palaniswami continues to claim that they will form a government with a clear majority. There is confusion within the BJP-AIADMK alliance, and the AIADMK is weakening,' he claimed. Shanmugam also rebutted Palaniswami's claim that his party accepted money from the DMK. 'We have already explained this a hundred times. We received money from the DMK for election expenses, but we handed it back exactly as it was received. Not even a single tea was consumed by the Communist Party from that amount,' he added.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ungaludan Stalin scheme a ploy to collect voters' phone numbers, alleges Palaniswami
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday (July 14, 2025) alleged that the ruling DMK is using the proposed Ungaludan Stalin scheme as a pretext to collect mobile numbers of voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the AIADMK Salem Urban and District office at Nedunchalai Nagar, Mr. Palaniswami described the initiative as 'an election drama aimed at voter outreach.' He claimed the scheme's real objective is to collect contact information under the guise of receiving petitions. Government officials are distributing forms for this scheme to every household. 'Through this, they [DMK] are collecting phone numbers and handing them over to the party's IT wing. These numbers will be used to reach out to voters during polling,' he alleged. Questioning the need for the Ungaludan Stalin scheme, he said: 'When Mr. Stalin was the Leader of the Opposition, he collected petitions and claimed they would be addressed after the DMK came to power. If those issues were resolved, why launch this new initiative?' On AIADMK-BJP alliance Responding to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's criticism of the AIADMK-BJP alliance, Mr. Palaniswami said only the people can judge the strength of any coalition. 'Udhayanidhi Stalin is not an astrologer. We do not need his predictions. He should focus on saving his own party's alliance, which is facing contradictions in the media,' he said. 'The AIADMK-led alliance is strong and will secure a massive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. The AIADMK will form the government on its own,' he asserted. On his ongoing tour across Tamil Nadu, Mr. Palaniswami said the public response indicates growing discontent with the DMK regime. 'People are ready to unseat this government. Corruption is rampant across departments, and the law and order situation has deteriorated,' he claimed. He also alleged that the DMK government is looting natural resources. 'Once the AIADMK returns to power, every act of corruption under the DMK will be thoroughly investigated,' he added. When asked about potential allies, Mr. Palaniswami said many parties are expected to join the AIADMK front closer to the polls. 'There are still eight months left. Closer to election time, more parties will join. Our alliance will be strong and victorious,' he said. Salem Corporators' clash Referring to a clash between AIADMK and DMK councillors during a Salem Corporation council meeting in May, Mr. Palaniswami said, 'Council meetings are meant to discuss people's issues. When the AIADMK representatives raised public concerns, a DMK woman councillor attacked one of our members. Even though we filed a complaint, the police registered cases against our injured councillors. This reflects the state of law and order under the so-called 'Stalin model' government.'
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
‘Silent emergency': TN BJP on cases against Murugan devotees meet participants
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused the ruling DMK government of imposing a 'silent emergency' in the state, following police action against participants of the Murugan Devotees' Conference held in Madurai last month. BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad strongly condemned the filing of police cases against several leaders, including Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, former party chief K. Annamalai, and Hindu Munnani leader Kadeswara Subramanian. The cases were registered in connection with their participation in the June 22nd devotional gathering, which saw the attendance of over 5 lakh devotees. Prasad questioned the rationale behind the police action, stating that the event was conducted in an exceptionally peaceful and disciplined manner. 'Even critics of the BJP in the media had to acknowledge the flawless organisation of the event. There were no law-and-order issues, no traffic disruptions, and no reports of public inconvenience. Devotees even cleaned the venue themselves after the event,' he said. He alleged that the DMK government had remained silent for 10 days before launching a politically motivated crackdown aimed at appeasing minority vote banks, using the pretext of 'external instigation.' Prasad said the state's law and order situation had deteriorated drastically under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's leadership. 'There is growing fear that Tamil Nadu is descending into lawlessness, where the police act like gangs of thugs. Even the DMK's own MLA, Inigo Irudayaraj, has publicly stated that 'police turned into beasts' and beat temple guard Ajithkumar to death.' The alleged custodial death of Ajithkumar in Sivaganga district has further fuelled criticism of the government. Initially, the state attempted to downplay the incident, but video footage of the police assault and scathing remarks from the Madras High Court forced a CBI inquiry. 'The DMK government's response has been mere theatrics - with a minister sent for damage control and the Chief Minister making a staged phone call to the victim's family,' said Prasad. The BJP also slammed the DMK for what it called 'anti-Hindu' actions and rhetoric. Prasad pointed to recent remarks by DMK Deputy General Secretary and former Union Minister A. Raja, who allegedly used derogatory language against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Protests against Raja erupted across the state, and during one such demonstration at Chepauk in Chennai, BJP State Vice President Narayanan Thirupathi was allegedly manhandled and arrested. The BJP also accused the police of brutality against women protestors, alleging multiple human rights violations. 'Since Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the AIADMK-BJP alliance and visited Tamil Nadu twice, the DMK has lost its peace of mind,' said Prasad. 'Fearing defeat in the upcoming Assembly elections, the ruling party has resorted to suppressive tactics and widespread intimidation,' he added. The BJP has demanded that the state government immediately withdraw what it calls 'false cases' and restore democratic norms. 'The people of Tamil Nadu are watching. In this age of social media, truth cannot be hidden. The consequences of this authoritarianism will soon be reflected in the ballot boxes,' Prasad warned.
