Former Chennai Mayor and senior AIADMK leader, Saidai Duraisamy, has urged the AIADMK to adopt the approach of its founder, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), by forging an alliance with the BJP to defeat the DMK in the upcoming elections.
In his statement, Duraisamy recalled how MGR had won elections by aligning with the central government. The AIADMK’s initial alliance with Congress ended when the party did not support Indira Gandhi’s candidacy for the Thanjavur Lok Sabha seat. In the subsequent elections, the DMK allied with Congress, securing a major victory while the AIADMK managed to win only two seats. As a result, MGR’s government was dissolved when Indira Gandhi regained the Prime Minister post.
Duraisamy emphasized how MGR then took a strategic approach to isolate the DMK by reconciling with Congress. During the Tirupattur by-election, MGR supported the Congress-DMK alliance candidate, Arunagiri, which helped break the DMK-Congress alliance and secured a victory for Congress. This move strengthened AIADMK’s relationship with the central government, which proved beneficial later on.
In 1984, when MGR fell ill, Duraisamy highlighted that Indira Gandhi personally ensured he received high-quality medical treatment abroad. That same year, the AIADMK-Congress alliance achieved a significant victory, with the central government’s support proving crucial during times of crisis for the party.
Duraisamy concluded by stressing the need for the AIADMK to form a strong alliance with the BJP to ensure victory in the 2026 elections. He called for uniting the loyalists of both MGR and Jayalalithaa, along with those opposed to the DMK, to create a powerful alliance and lead the party back to success.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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