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'In Tamil Nadu we head the NDA, the BJP is a junior partner.'
'As long as they know that, all will be well.'
A few weeks ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu President Kuppusamy Annamalai had released the 'DMK Files', listing the assets of prominent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders, which he alleged were the result of corruption.
At that time he had also claimed he would be releasing details of the assets of all the political parties that had ruled Tamil Nadu.
As this includes the All India Anna DMK which is a BJP ally. his statement came as a surprise.
The AIADMK then responded by saying that they have 'nothing to hide'.
Its complacency was shattered when Annamalai spoke about J Jayalalithaa and her conviction for corruption.
The AIADMK passed a resolution condemning the statement and several former AIADMK ministers lashed out at Annamalai for daring to speak against their beloved 'Amma'.
The alliance between the two parties seems to be coming undone, with various AIADMK leaders taking potshots at Annamalai, and even questioned the BJP.
"He has since apologised and promised to not repeat the statement, but if he does, we will retaliate very harshly," D Jayakumar, former minister and senior AIADMK leader, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar.
Annamalai had said he would release the assets of all parties that had ruled Tamil Nadu. Why didn't you object at that time?
Of course, we had reacted. I had said, 'Madiyil ganam irundhaal vazhiyil bayam irrukkum', which means we would be worried only if we had anything to hide.
Why do you think Annamalai is criticising Jayalalithaa?
He has no right to speak about our late leader Jayalalithaa. We condemned it immediately and retaliated against Annamalai.
He has taken back his statement and is praising her now. We are happy that he has expressed regret.
We believe that he will not talk about Amma and our party, but if he does, we will retaliate very harshly
Senthil Balaji is being investigated by the ED for what he did as an AIADMK minister.
He was our minister and he was collecting money from drivers and conductors to give them jobs.
When Amma came to know about this, she made him resign as minister. The FIR against him was filed in 2018, when we were in power.
Do you think the BJP will survive in Tamil Nadu without the AIADMK?
We are a member of the National Democratic Alliance. In Tamil Nadu we head the NDA, the BJP is a junior partner. As long as they know that, all will be well.
Do you trust the BJP? You know in the past they have had an alliance with the DMK as well.
They are now our alliance partner. They will contest the seats that we give them. Our principles are different and the way we run our parties is also different.
Will you end the alliance if Annamalai continues criticising your party?
He will not speak.
Do the threat of ED, IT, CBI cases worry you?
They are doing their job. Those who commit crimes have to be scared.
Why did the BJP lose in Karnataka?
They lost because the people did not vote for them. The BJP has to find out why this happened. We are not concerned.
Does Prime Minister Narendra Modi have any effect in the South?
All parties want to increase their influence to all parts of the country. The BJP is trying like every other party.
Is the OPS chapter over for AIADMK?
OPS (former chief minister O Panneerselvam) is an opportunist. He was expelled from the party by the general council.
He has no connection to us. As far as we are concerned, he is finished.
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com