Ever since the AIADMK-BJP alliance was announced, controversies have been abundant. On April 11, when he shook hands to form an alliance, Amit Shah sparked hopes of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu. The anger had not yet subsided.
Yesterday, Edappadi Palaniswami expressed his strong feelings during a public meeting in Kallakurichi. "No one can take us away. The AIADMK will win more seats and come to power with an absolute majority," Edappadi said in a clear message to the BJP.
Sharing power is a strategy the BJP employs in many states. The BJP believes that forming a coalition government is the way to strengthen its control and promote development within the state. However, in Tamil Nadu, the idea of coalition rule has not been widely discussed.
During the 2006-11 regime, the DMK did not have a majority on its own in the Assembly. Karunanidhi completed his term with the support of the allies from outside. Jayalalithaa has even criticised the DMK as a minority. Similarly, the AIADMK has never formed a coalition government in its electoral history. In 2011, Vijayakanth's DMDK formed an alliance with the AIADMK. Vijayakanth had come to the AIADMK alliance after proving a substantial vote bank in the 2006 assembly elections and 2009 parliamentary elections as a film star. He could only become the Leader of the Opposition, unable to get a share of power.
Actor Vijay, who launched a new party called Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam last year, had talked about sharing power in his first conference. Even before that, VCK leader Thirumavalavan had spoken about sharing power in the DMK alliance, which had sparked a controversy within the DMK alliance. Thirumavalavan has raised his voice for a share in power but has not yet taken it as a demand within the coalition. From time to time, there is a voice from the Congress side that there will be a coalition government.
But it is in the NDA, the BJP presents a coalition government with a sense of power and dominance. Amit Shah himself has been talking about it again and again. On April 11, at the press conference announcing the alliance, Edappadi said that the NDA will form the government. Amit Shah's speech was controversial then. Edappadi immediately replied with Thambidurai that there is no place for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu.
At a press conference, he said, "You have misunderstood what Amit Shah said. He said that the NDA will come to power," Edappadi said, as a new interpretation of Amit Shah's speech. Meanwhile, former BJP state president K. Annamalai intervened and said, "I will not call it a coalition government in Tamil Nadu. I would say BJP's rule," he said, agitating the members of ADMK and thereby placing the BJP as a rival.
In this uproar, the present BJP state president Nainar Nagendran spoke a little more calmly. "The government in Tamil Nadu will be formed under the leadership of Edappadi Palaniswami," he said. Some of the BJP's second-tier leaders and spokespersons maintained that Amit Shah's remarks were misunderstood.
But a few days ago, Amit Shah gave an interview to two newspapers in
Tamil Nadu. "It's a coalition government. The BJP will be a part of it," he said. The controversy over the coalition government is going on. Amit Shah gave the interview after it was fully known that the AIADMK did not enjoy the coalition government. The BJP's all-India leadership and Amit Shah are sure of a coalition government.
After Amit Shah's interview, there was no strong reaction from the AIADMK. In this situation, Edappadi has opened his mouth in this regard at the public meeting held in Kallakurichi yesterday. "No one can take us away. The AIADMK will win more seats and form the government with an absolute majority," he said. This speech is seen as Edappadi Palaniswami's reply to Amit Shah's interview through the mic.
We contacted Kalyanasundaram, the editor of our Amma magazine to talk about this. "The general secretary has made it clear that there is no coalition government. We are sure of that," Kalyanasundaram said, adding that the AIADMK alliance will win a majority of the seats in Tamil Nadu. The government will be led by AIADMK. BJP state president Nainar Nagendran has also confirmed this.
If the BJP wants a coalition government, let them show it during the poll pact. We will talk and settle it. The DMK alliance is not strong. The Communists are fighting against the regime. The MDMK is asking for more seats. Thiruma talks about not working for just tea and bun. Their alliance is not strong. To hide this, the DMK is stirring up something about the AIADMK alliance," he concluded.
"You have to listen to what Edappadi said. He talks about the BJP-AIADMK alliance win. So, there is no confusion in the alliance. There is no need for any controversy about the coalition government now," said the BJP state vice president Karu Nagarajan.
The AIADMK side says, it will see to this during the agreement. The BJP says there is no need for this controversy for the time being. Let's wait and see who will show the white flag on this issue.
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