BJP keeps its doors open for AIADMK

The meeting organized in the absence of BJP State president K Annamalai, who is on a sabbatical in the United Kingdom, focused mainly on the enrolment of new members. Though a target of one crore members was fixed for the State unit, they had managed to rope in only 14 lakh members, Menon reportedly told the meeting held at state headquarters, Kamalalayam, in Chennai.

When some participants pointed out to the AIADMK leaders attacking the BJP in their meetings and statements, Menon told them to just ignore those barbs and work on strengthening the party in the State. Since the vote share of the BJP had gone up in the last elections there was definitely a possibility of the party emerging as a force to reckon with in the State, he told the leaders

Among those who participated in the meeting were former State presidents, present vice presidents and all key leaders like H Raja, Tamilisai Soundararajan, L Murugan, Pon Radhakrishnan, Vanathi Srinivasan and V P Duraisamy.

That the BJP national leadership is still hopeful of reviving the alliance with the AIADMK is strange and interesting since AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had categorically ruled out going back to the NDA fold in future and had even started attacking the former ally.

Initially after walking out of the alliance in 2023, Palaniswami did not target the BJP for its attacks. But soon after it was pointed out by the other parties, he began firing salvos at the national party though a bit cautiously.

He recently reiterated his stand on not having ties with the BJP while evincing interest in aligning with the nascent Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam of actor Vijay, which, however, said that it was not planning for any electoral alliances now.

The State unit is also waiting for the return of Annamalai to Chennai on November 29. At least a couple of meetings have been planned in Chennai and Coimbatore soon after Annamalai comes back to rejuvenate the party.