On Monday (2 October 2023), the General Secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the party passed a resolution to walk out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after consultations with the district secretaries.
The party had held a consultative meeting with senior leaders, district secretaries, former MPs and MLAs on 25 September 2023 and passed a resolution to exit from the NDA.
In its press release, the ADMK said that the state leadership of the BJP has been deliberately defaming the ADMK, its leaders Annadurai and Jayalalithaa with ulterior motives.
It further added that the state leadership (Annamalai) has been belittling the massive public meeting that happened in Madurai on 20 August 2023 and defaming Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
In the wake of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) parting ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), AIADMK’s General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) addressed a party gathering in Salem district, urging Muslims to support the party in upcoming elections.
A video of EPS speaking at the event has been making the rounds on social media platform X. EPS said, “Many people from the Muslim community have come here. I would like to point out that ADMK has acted just as you wished. Similarly, you have to ensure that our candidates win the elections. I learned today that many people from the Muslim community reside in this area. You must go to each Muslim’s house and assure them that ADMK will always work towards the safety of the minority community. I am also from this region; I live in Salem, and you can meet me anytime. As far as the ADMK is concerned, just like how the eyelids protect the eyes, ADMK will be the first people to protect the minority communities.”
முஸ்லிம் மக்கள் ஆசைப்பட்டது போல அதிமுக,பாஜக கூட்டணி இல்லை. கண்ணை இமை காப்பது போல சிறுபான்மையினரை அதிமுக பாதுகாக்குமாம்- எடப்பாடி. இந்து ஓட்டு வங்கி இல்லாததால் தானே இந்த பேச்சு அதிமுகவும் திமுகவும் போட்டி போட்டு சிறுபான்மை காவலராக தன்னை அறிவிக்கிறார்கள். இந்துக்கள் உனர்வது எப்போ? pic.twitter.com/tH5RRMkha5
— A.T.Elangovan (@elangovan_HM) October 3, 2023
AIADMK leaders have previously acknowledged that their alliance with the BJP had cost them minority votes. This sentiment was expressed by leaders like CV Shanmugam after the 2021 Assembly elections and KA Sengottaiyan following the Erode East bypoll.
The AIADMK has recently reaffirmed its stance against the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a move seen as an attempt to connect with minority voters.
Furthermore, the reinduction of former Ramanathapuram MP Anwar Raajhaa, known for his criticisms of the BJP, in August, was perceived as a strategic move by AIADMK to appeal to the Muslim community. While ADMK and Edappadi Palaniswami have maintained their image as a secular party that respects all communities, this marks the first instance where Palaniswami has actively sought to engage with minority voters for political support.
(with inputs from Swarajyamag)
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