Reporter’s Diary: Periyar loses favour with ruling AIADMK?

Periyar was the backbone of Dravidian movement in the State and former Chief Minister CN Annadurai followed his ideals. The AIADMK, which carries the name of Anna in their party name, has forgotten his political guru Periyar.

On December 24, party leaders, including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, paid respect to MGR at his memorial but did not do so to Periyar.

This is a shift from the practice of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who never had forgotten to pay respects to Periyar on his birth and death anniversaries. AIADMK not paying respects to Periyar has given space for critics who allege that the ruling AIADMK government, with the intention to appease the BJP government at the Centre, is distancing itself from Periyar by not observing his death anniversary.

Even when BJP posted a derogatory comment on Periyar there was no official reaction from either of the two AIADMK top leaders. But DMK President MK Stalin scored on the issue by posting a warning message to BJP.