OPS's tweet on alliance with BJP sparks row

A tweet by O Panneerselvam, leader of the Puratchi Thalaivi faction of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, on a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party after the declaration of civic polls kicked up a storm on Saturday.

"We will take a decision on alliance with BJP once local body elections are announced," the tweet from Panneerselvam's twitter handle @OfficeOfOPS said.

The tweet, however, was later removed with the faction clarifying that it will decide on the tie-up with 'any party' only after the local body poll dates were declared.

The development came a day after Panneerselvam called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss the issues concerning Tamil Nadu.

In an apparent damage control move, the media team of the faction clarified that the alliance could be with any party depending upon the situation.

"We mean that only after the announcement of local body elections we will think about the alliance with any political party," another tweet from the @OfficeOfOPS handle said in a clarification.

Former chief minister Panneerselvam had revolted against AIADMK chief V K Sasikala in February this year, alleging he was forced to make way for her to the state's top post.

Later, he led a host of MPs, MLAs and senior leaders to form a faction of his own.

He had also fielded E Madusudanan for the now cancelled April 12 RK Nagar bypoll against AIADMK-Amma Deputy General Secretary T T V Dinakaran. The BJP had nominated Gangai Amaren for the election.

The Election Commission had cancelled the bypoll over the use of money power to influence voters.

The proposed merger talks between the two factions led by Panneerselvam and chief minister K Palaniswami, has remained a non-starter owing to the former's insistence on expulsion of Sasikala, Dinakaran and their family members from AIADMK.

IMAGE: O Panneerselvam meets Prime MInister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, May 19. Photograph: @OfficeOfOPS/Twitter