‘Big Loss to BJP’: How Leaders Reacted as AIADMK Walks Out of NDA

After a tumultuous relationship over the past few months, the AIADMK on Monday announced to sever ties with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and walked out of the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

AIADMK Deputy Coordinator K P Munusamy said that the party has unanimously passed a resolution in the meeting to cut ties with the BJP.

The decision was taken during an AIADMK meeting chaired by General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami with key office-bearers, including the district secretaries and MLAs to discuss ties with the BJP. The party’s high-level meeting adopted a unanimous resolution criticising the BJP Tamil Nadu unit for deliberately attacking AIADMK icons and ideology.

“The state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks on our former leaders, our general secretary EPS and our cadres for the past one year. In today’s meeting, this resolution was passed unanimously,” said the AIADMK.

Celebrations took place outside AIADMK headquarters in Chennai following the party’s decision to sever ties with the BJP.

BJP Yet to Respond Officially on AIADMK’s Decision

When asked about the AIADMK’s decision, BJP state party chief K Annamalai said the national leadership will give a timely response in the matter.

BJP Leader CT Ravi also spoke about the breaking of the alliance between the AIADMK and BJP. He said, “Eight months are left and what will happen in these months, we can’t say anything today. To make the party strong is the duty of every worker. Under the leadership of K Annamalai a great work of strengthening the party is being done”.

AIADMK Calls Annamalai ‘Rabble-rouser’

Calling Annamalai “rabble-rouser”, AIADMK leader Kovai Sathya said it is the BJP who needs AIADMK and it’s not AIADMK that needs BJP as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned.

AIADMK Spokesperson Sasirekha said this is “the happiest moment for AIADMK”. She also added that the resolution was taken after the opinion of the members.

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INDIA Bloc Says ‘Big Loss to BJP’

Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that AIADMK’s decision to quit NDA will be a big loss to the BJP.

“If you look at South India, then you would see that a major ally of NDA has quit the alliance. I think this will be a big loss to BJP,” he said.

On AIADMK’s decision to sever ties with the BJP-led NDA, Jharkhand Congress chief Rajesh Thakur said that the AIADMK’s move indicates that the ‘BJP’s days are numbered’.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi alleged that BJP doesn’t respect its allies and this is a good step by the AIADMK.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2019 LOK SABHA POLLS IN TAMIL NADU?

In 2019, the BJP was wiped out in Tamil Nadu and its partner AIADMK was decimated to only one seat. On the other hand, the DMK-Congress alliance won 30 (Congress 8 & DMK 24) out of 39 seats in the state.