CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Sunday said he would continue to be BJP’s Tamil Nadu president even if the AIADMK continued to be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Annamalai told reporters he had been asked to continue in the post of state chief by the BJP leadership. "In the last 15 days, our PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda made it clear to me about my role in the party and what is expected of me. A road map has been given for me for the next five years and as a karyakartha, my job is to obey their orders," said Annamalai.
At a recent closed door party meeting held in Chennai, Annamalai told senior party functionaries that he would resign from his post if the AIADMK remained a part of the alliance for the LS polls. Annamalai’s volte face comes in the wake of a meeting of an AIADMK delegation led by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami with national BJP leaders Shah, Nadda and himself.
Asked if the BJP was ready to accept the AIADMK as its alliance leader in TN, Annamalai indicated all the parties should be treated equally in the alliance. "There is no such talk about alliance leaders in the state. There is no doubt that the AIADMK is a bigger party and has been in office on several occasions, but Narendra Modi is the face of the alliance. BJP's expectation is that the party should have an honourable and equitable position in the alliance," said Annamalai.
Asked if the alliance with AIADMK for the upcoming LS polls had been sealed, Annamalai indicated it was. "The meeting of BJP top brass with AIADMK leaders and the photos of the meeting is an indication that you (reporters) should understand," said Annamalai.
