Before civic polls, cracks visible in AIADMK-BJP ties 

BJP state treasurer SR Sekhar said that the indirect elections to local bodies will only pave way for horse trading and blamed the AIADMK and the DMK for adopting it.

Reacting to Pon Radhakrishnan’s comment that the AIADMK – BJP alliance was only for the Lok Sabha elections and the saffron party will lead the alliance for the upcoming polls, Jayakumar said AIADMK will continue to lead the alliance in TN.

Jayakumar also advised Pon Radhakrishnan to recall what Union Minister Piyush Goyal said during the recent Lok Sabha polls. Quoting Goyal, Jayakumar said that AIADMK will lead the alliance in TN and the status quo will continue forever.

Meanwhile, AIADMK senior and Mettur MLA S Semmalai wished that the BJP walks out of the alliance. AIADMK is ready to contest the elections on its strength, Semmalai said. Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji also echoed the views of Semmalai.

“I have expressed my views that the civic polls should be delayed further. The seat-sharing talks between AIADMK and its allies have started weakening the grand alliance. The ruling party alliance should stay united for the next 2021 Assembly polls,” opined MLA U Thaniyarasu, who is in alliance with the AIADMK.

“The recent comments by BJP leaders Pon Radhakrishnan and Vaanathi Srinivasan supporting actor Rajinikanth’s view on the political vacuum in the state had already irritated the AIADMK old-timers. Adding fire to the fuel, Radhakrishnan on Wednesday extended a fresh invitation for actors Rajini and Kamal to join the BJP front. A furious AIADMK MLA said that party leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam are keenly watching the BJP’s behaviour defaming the alliance dharma.