AIADMK to take call on approach towards BJP after 5 state poll results

Though the AIADMK has no stakes in the polls, dubbed as semi-final, all eyes are on the BJP, a senior AIADMK leader said and some ministers are already upset with the BJP for its big brother attitude.

“The Centre continues to dent the image of the state government. Consecutive I-T and CBI raids targeting senior ministers and officials and permission to the Karnataka government to go ahead with a detailed project report on Mekedatu dam has already created a debate among the AIADMK leaders,” a party MP admitted.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam have also discussed the issue with the party MPs. A few MPs are also ready to take on the BJP during the winter session, but the political clearance from the top brass is pending, he said.

Further, a team is also working for a patch up with rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran and a few leaders have also agreed to accept the leadership of Dhinakaran. All these discussions and dissents will gain momentum based on the BJP’s performance in the just held elections to the five states, the MP added.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar joined Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and made a veiled attack on the BJP admitting that the Centre was yet to release funds to Cyclone Gaja relief. The Centre has released just the annual allocation of state disaster management funds, which is usual for every other state. Till date not a rupee is allocated by it under the demanded Gaja relief, he said. . However, Udayakumar said that the Centre has released additional funds for Kerala and exuded confidence that the state may get its due from the Centre.

“Yes, there are discussions within the party on our stand against the Centre, but a few ministers have advised the MPs and MLAs to be silent. Till the Lok Sabha polls are announced there will be no adverse reaction from our side,” quipped another senior AIADMK functionary.

“The AIADMK is suffering at the hands of the BJP and that is the reason why our leader Dhinakaran is focussed on retrieving the party from the Centre’s clutches. The existing AIADMK will see more fissures during Lok Sabha polls and more seniors will accept our leadership,” opined Sukumar Babu, AMMK’s organising secretary.