Despite being rivals and failing to bridge their differences during merger talks, both the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) and the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) factions appear to have a similar strategy towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
They seem to be warming up to the ruling party at the Centre and may support it during the Presidential elections. It was only last week that AIADMK (PTA) leader O. Panneerselvam called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami too will meet Mr Modi in New Delhi.
For them, the track record of the AIADMK, when headed by Jayalalithaa, in the Presidential polls, serves as a precedent.
In the last three Presidential elections (2002, 2007 and 2012), the AIADMK had voted in favour of candidates promoted by the BJP, notwithstanding the fact that the party was on the side of the winner only once — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2002. Fifteen years ago, Kalam’s candidature was supported by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) too.
A series of events that took place in the last two weeks lend credence to the perception that the two factions are inching towards the BJP. The submission of a representation by the BJP’s state general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on issues concerning western districts on May 10; the participation of Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan at an event organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP’s ideological parent body; and Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu talking tough on the State government at a functionon May 14 pointed to the changing equations. Subsequently, former Chief Minister and leader of the AIADMK (PTA) O. Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi.
M. Thambidurai, propaganda secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, says that the events have shown the existence of a “good relationship” between the State and Central governments and one does not have to view them necessarily along political lines.
Collective decision
K.P. Munusamy, a prominent face of the AIADMK (PTA), discounts any political significance behind last week’s OPS-Modi meeting and says that as members of a “big party,” it is their duty to meet the Prime Minister and highlight the State’s case.
While Mr. Thambidurai and Mr. Munusamy say their parties will take a “collective decision” on the issue of backing a candidate for the Presidential polls, BJP leader L. Ganesan says his party, after having made up its mind on the nominee, will definitely approach other parties for support.
