AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi Palaniswami, addressed a conference on Sunday, 7 January 2023, on the defence of secularism organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Madurai. What is interesting is that EPS shared the stage with SDPI state president, Nellai Mubarak, who was in the news in July 2023 after NIA conducted raids in connection with the Ramalingam murder case.
Ramalingam was a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary who killed by radical Islamists associated with the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and its auxiliary outfit SDPI, after he resisted religious conversion in his area.
Ex CM and the other guy I don't know his name but remember that NIA conducted raids on him a few months back 😒👍 pic.twitter.com/iHgu2JBKsO
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) January 7, 2024
The AIADMK leader’s participation in the SDPI conference is seen as a potential indication of an electoral alliance between the two parties. Palaniswami has been actively distancing the AIADMK from its previous alliance with the BJP, “addressing” concerns of minorities. The SDPI’s invitation to Palaniswami and similar moves by other Muslim parties, including AIMIM, suggest a shift in alliances, with the AIADMK seeking to regain its secular credentials.
Palaniswami assured minorities that the AIADMK would not ally with the BJP in upcoming elections and highlighted the party’s commitment to their welfare. He criticised the DMK for allegedly failing to fulfill promises made to the Muslim community. Palaniswami expressed optimism about more parties, like SDPI, joining the AIADMK alliance, aiming to win all 40 seats in the upcoming elections.
In his outreach to minorities, Palaniswami emphasised the AIADMK’s historical support for minority communities during its governance. He accused the DMK of merely claiming to be a protector of minority rights while acting against their welfare. Palaniswami reiterated the party’s stand on not projecting a prime ministerial candidate, focusing instead on advocating for Tamil Nadu’s welfare in the Parliament.
The AIADMK leader criticized the Global Investors’ Meet and called for transparency by asking if the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister would present a white paper on the previously signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Palaniswami shared his own struggles during his tenure as Chief Minister and voiced concerns about accommodating individuals who are now outside the party.
The SDPI, in turn, declared the “Madurai Declaration” during the conference, aiming to protect the secular fabric of the country. Palaniswami’s participation in the SDPI conference and his outreach to minority communities signal a strategic move by the AIADMK to reshape its political alliances and regain its secular image. It is noteworthy that in October 2023, the AIADMK introduced a calling attention motion over the issue of releasing Muslim prisoners including those who have been convicted for the 1998 Coimbatore Bomb Blasts.
மாண்புமிகு சட்டமன்ற எதிர்கட்சித்தலைவர் புரட்சித்தமிழர் @EPSTamilNadu அவர்கள் இன்று (10.10.2023) தமிழ் நாட்டில் நீண்ட நாள் சிறையில் உள்ள இஸ்லாமிய சிறைவாசிகளை விடுதலை செய்வது குறித்து சட்டப்பேரவையில் சிறப்பு கவன ஈர்ப்பு தீர்மானம் கொண்டு வந்தார் .@AIADMKOfficial… pic.twitter.com/zsVsAPxDH3
— AIADMK IT WING (@AIADMKITWINGOFL) October 10, 2023
The motion called for releasing over 36 Muslim prisoners including the 16 convicts sentenced to life in the 1998 Coimbatore Blasts case on humanitarian grounds considering their long sentences served, old age, and health.
(with inputs from Deccan Chronicle)