‘A Party We Oppose Out-And-Out’: AIADMK Says Its ‘Doors Closed’ For BJP In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu’s primary opposition party, AIADMK, declared on Wednesday that it had firmly closed the door on any potential alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

In response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that ‘the BJP’s doors are open for the AIADMK,’ senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar reiterated the party’s stance. “Amit Shah has said the doors of his party are open for the AIADMK. As for our party’s stand, the BJP was once a friendly party. Now, it is a party we oppose out-and-out. We have closed our door on the BJP though they may keep their door open (for the AIADMK),” stated Jayakumar, AIADMK’s organisation secretary, PTI quoted him as saying. 

Accusing Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai, without naming him, Jayakumar alleged that the late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai were belittled by Annamalai. Despite his party’s condemnation, Annamalai’s criticism persisted. Jayakumar questioned, “How can we accept it?” emphasising that party cadres and the public were against allying with the BJP.

Highlighting the strong anti-BJP sentiments within the party, Jayakumar referred to a party resolution last year that firmly rejected any future alliance with the Saffron party. “We have closed our door on the BJP. We do not want the BJP to come to us. This is our stand,” he affirmed.

When asked if the AIADMK would reconsider its position if the BJP took action against Annamalai for his remarks against Jayalalithaa, Jayakumar categorically stated, “There is no question of going back”. 

Former Chief Minister and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, since severing ties with the BJP in September 2023, has consistently maintained that there will never be an alliance with the BJP.

In an interview published on Wednesday, Amit Shah mentioned that the BJP’s doors are open to the AIADMK for a potential alliance. The AIADMK formally ended its association with the BJP in September 2023, citing Annamalai’s alleged criticism of Jayalalithaa and Dravidian ideologue Annadurai.