AIADMK camp divided on remarks

While the AIADMK convenor O Panneerselvam and senior Minister D Jayakumar have openly come out against the actor for his comments on Periyar, the camp led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is silent over the issue and the party’s second rung leaders are closely monitoring the political developments, informed AIADMK sources told DT Next.

“By and large the party has adopted a wait and watch approach towards actor Rajinikanth and the party spokespersons will be cautious leaving only the leaders to react on the subject. Anything is possible in electoral alliance and the party does not want to antagonise the actor who is also close with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said an AIADMK leader adding that the AIADMK will now leave the matter to settle.

Anna and Periyar are the two icons of Dravidian movement and the response to the actor is a namesake reaction.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is clear that the battle 2021 must be between the AIADMK and the DMK. Unnecessary criticism or support to the actor may give him the political mileage and thus the CM has left the issue to fizzle out on its own, emphasised the AIADMK leader.

“Last year when the actor openly made a comment against CM Palaniswami, the entire party rallied against the actor, this time we will wait for the political developments,” said an AIADMK MLA stating that soft Hindutva will continue to be the party’s principle toeing on the lines of Arignar Anna’s ondre Kulam oruvane devan. (one god one community).

“Eyeing the next year polls Rajinikanth has set the pace by triggering the Periyar controversy with an objective of pitching DMK and DK as an anti- Hindu organisations and the behaviour of AIADMK is something is to be closely monitored for the next few weeks,” political commentator Raveendran Duraisamy said.