The BJP has distanced itself from the unfolding drama within the two factions of the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) saying that blaming the BJP or even the Central government was without any logic despite the fact that deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, M. Thambidurai, flew in to Delhi last night and is said to be in touch with party leaders.
BJP general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu affairs in the party, Muralidhar Rao, told The Hindu that events within the AIADMK were “purely a matter of their self interest.”
“We have to understand it is purely an issue driven by self interest, they have a mandate and the specific number of MLAs and want to find ways of running their government. After the demise of a leader like Jayalalithaa, who did not leave a succession plan behind and in a personality centric party, this kind of struggle was entirely expected,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
When asked about raids on AIADMK ministers and leaders belonging to a particular faction by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other agencies, Mr. Rao said that the “raids are a routine process not just in Chennai but across the country.”
“An autonomous body like the Election Commission cancelled the R.K. Nagar Assembly bypoll on the basis of huge evidence of financial wrongdoing in the campaign. We have to understand the kind of case for which the top leader of one of the factions had been convicted,” he added.
“They are not known for credibility or transparency in their politics,” he said. “So there is no logic in blaming the BJP for their troubles,” he said, adding that his party “was only watching the political developments in Tamil Nadu” and was “still determined to make its own space there.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Sources in the government however said that the upcoming presidential polls in July is a concern, as the ruling party wants to shore up support of AIADMK MPs and MLAs with the opposition opening talks of propping a common candidate.