AIADMK has no option but to support BJP’s presidential pick

There is a feeling all factions are united with the sole aim of remaining in power

Despite being the third largest party in the Lok Sabha with 37 MPs (in addition to 13 in Rajya Sabha) and after getting elected to rule Tamil Nadu for a consecutive term, a divided AIADMK appears to have no choice but to back the BJP’s candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.

The party, which is now split in its loyalties between Edappadi Palaniswami, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam, is unable to oppose the BJP for various reasons.

Professor Ramu Manivannan of the Department of Politics and Public Administration in the University of Madras opined that the three AIADMK factions would extend unconditional support to the NDA candidate in the presidential polls. “What else can the AIADMK do? Can it support the Congress candidate? Or will the Congress even seek the support of AIADMK when the DMK was in its fold? Irrespective of their internal differences, the AIADMK factions will have to support the BJP candidate,” he said.

While the Palaniswami and Panneerselvam factions would clearly vote for BJP, MLAs and MPs supporting Mr. Dhinakaran would have no choice but to support the NDA candidate. “He [Mr. Dhinakaran] may not openly say so in many words that he would support or not. But, without spelling out his stand, his supporters would silently vote for the BJP candidate,” felt Mr. Manivannan. According to him, all factions were all united in their aim to remain in power and do anything towards achieving this.

A political commentator, seeking anonymity, said the recent IT searches against the Health Minister and the fact that names of some Ministers figured in a document seized from his house, would also influence the ruling party’s decision. He too agrees that the party’s anathema towards the DMK would push it to back the BJP’s presidential candidate. “Since the DMK has been a major platform for putting forth anti-BJP sentiments in the State - for instance the restriction on cattle trade -, the AIADMK will have to support the BJP even if it doesn’t want to,” he contended.

Dhinakaran’s support

Agreeing that the Palaniswami and Panneerselvam camps would be inclined to favour the BJP candidate, political commentator Govi. Lenin, said, “However, what the Dhinakaran faction wants is for the BJP to properly seek support from the party’s deputy general secretary for their candidate.”

Referring to the recent meeting of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai with BJP leaders, Mr. Lenin said, “If the BJP meets Ms. Sonia Gandhi for discussion with Congress, it should seek support from Mr. Dhinakaran, since he is officially the deputy general secretary. His faction is expecting only that.”

The Dhinakaran faction, he added, has been insisting that the party’s leadership remained with him. Besides, the affidavits submitted by the AIADMK (Amma) to the Election Commission have stated Sasikala as the general secretary and hence Mr Dhinakaran would want to be approached by the BJP for support.

Prominent Dhinakaran faction leader and MLA Thangatamilselvan said: “Our general secretary is Chinnamma [V.K. Sasikala]. If the BJP properly seeks our support through our general secretary, like it does for other parties, there are chances that our votes would be cast for their candidate. But, if they don’t, there might be some problem.”

When sought for a comment, a Minister, loyal to the Chief Minister’s camp, said the latter would decide on whom to support in the presidential polls. “We would follow his instruction,” he said.