A reluctant Annamalai was compelled to join senior BJP leaders in their attempt to build bridges with DMK signalling a change of equation.
Published Aug 19, 2024 | 7:54 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 19, 2024 | 10:36 PM
Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin along with Union Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh unveiling commemorative coin in honour of K Karunanidhi. (X/Rajnath Singh)
“தமிழ் வெல்லும்” (Tamil will win) reads a quote on the commemorative coin unveiled on Sunday to celebrate M Karunanidhi’s birth centenary.
Those sharing the stage, however, seemed like they wanted to win over something else. While Union ministers — Rajnath Singh and L Murugan — shared the stage with Chief Minister MK Stalin, heaping praises on Karunanidhi, many people saw it as representatives of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) extending an olive branch to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
From readily agreeing to mint a special edition coin to honour Karunanidhi to PM Narendra Modi’s long letter praising the DMK doyen, from Rajnath Singh going the extra mile by not just releasing the coin in Chennai but also paying tributes at Karunanidhi’s memorial and dragging DMK’s harshest critic — BJP state president K Annamalai — along, BJP is in a mood to indulge the DMK.
For parties that claim to be poles apart, the BJP is giving DMK a lot of attention and the Dravidian party is basking in it. Ideological differences, DMK’s position as a constituent in Opposition’s INDIA bloc, bickering with state leaders, etc., perhaps took a backseat while celebrating the life of MK Stalin’s father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The Union government’s contribution to minting a special coin justified the presence of Union ministers at the event. What caught everyone’s attention was Annamalai’s compulsion to participate.
The BJP’s attempt to build bridges with DMK comes when a section of leaders within the Tamil Nadu Congress are pushing to part ways with it. On the political spectrum, DMK and Congress may be on one side and BJP on the other, but ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Congress leaders are lobbying to split from DMK.
Although the central leadership of the Congress is unwilling to part ways with the DMK, it has been unsuccessful in reigning in its leaders advocating for a split. DMK is among Congress’ close allies and a split from the DMK could impact arrangements within the INDIA bloc in other poll-bound states as well. For the DMK, BJP’s attempt to woo it is a good opportunity to show it’s not to be taken for granted by its allies.
BJP’s hand of friendship comes at a time the saffron party has fallen woefully short of a majority in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP is dependent on allies to stay afloat. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP, goaded by its state president Annamalai, lost its biggest ally AIADMK — the rival of DMK — ahead of Lok Sabha polls. With a strong Opposition in Parliament, bulldozing bills as it has in the past may prove to be a challenge.
In DMK, BJP sees a potential friend if not an official ally at least for now. A party that could be as close or distant as drops of water on a lotus leaf. DMK has 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. It makes for an ideal ‘friend’ with whom BJP could arrive at an understanding. Perhaps a friend who, if not support a bill, can stage a walkout in exchange for, say, exempting Tamil Nadu from NEET.
The friendly overtures are changing the dynamics within BJP as well. When DMK and BJP leaders were at Kalaignar memorial earlier on Sunday, MK Stalin was seen enthusiastically asking Annamalai to step forward as Rajnath Singh laid a wreath. An unamused Annamalai stepped forward with a lightening-quick salutation. Compared to a revered bowing of the head that Rajnath Singh chose as his way to offer respects, the state BJP chief seemed like he was in a place he didn’t want to be.
The BJP leadership had so far given a free hand to Annamalai in Tamil Nadu. Post the Lok Sabha poll debacle, the equation seems to have changed. Annamalai’s claim to fame in politics is his razor-sharp attack on DMK and MK Stalin.
The same Annamalai was forced to tag along with senior BJP leaders at the event, exchange pleasantries with DMK leaders he criticises regularly. Following AIADMK’s claim that Annamalai was the sole reason for its alliance with BJP to fall flat, the saffron party seems to be treading carefully.
DMK claims all Tamil Nadu political party chiefs were invited to Karunanidhi’s birth centenary celebrations. Annamalai attended while someone like AIADMK’s Edappadi Palaniswamy didn’t. The former perhaps had no choice.
Also read: Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu want to split from DMK
A faction within Congress in Tamil Nadu is pushing for an alliance with AIADMK in the upcoming assembly polls. The DMK is neither unaware nor worried. While the DMK insists it isn’t prudent for it to join hands with the BJP, it doesn’t hurt the Dravidian party to taunt Congress by rubbing shoulders with the saffron party.
“Our alliance with the Congress will continue. An alliance with the BJP will be suicidal for DMK and we have seen it in the past. Top leadership of both parties understand the need to fight together,” said a DMK functionary.
DMK’s confidence stems from common ideas of social justice that the two parties share. The friendships between leaders like A Raja and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Stalin and Rahul Gandhi, DMK believes, will override lobbying. But in the meantime, DMK considers it tactful not to close the doors on friendly overtures, even if it comes from the BJP.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
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