AIADMK’s glee at a possible tie-up with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has invited ridicule from AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and key DMK ally, Thirumavalavan MP, as yet another attempt at backstabbing the BJP despite losing credibility.
It all started with the fluttering of a few TVK flags at a rally of AIADMK General secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) at Komarapalayam two days ago and he took it as a signal of the two parties coming together.
“This heralds a new beginning. There is a resurgence and an alliance is in the offing. This will make Chief Minister MK Stalin sleepless,” said an excited EPS, enthusing the party cadre.
This also comes amidst rumours of the TVK gravitating toward the AIADMK despite the denial by the former, facing the heat of the Karur stampede at the film star’s September 27 rally which claimed 42 lives.
Now, EPS remark has invited harsh criticism from his arch rival Dhinakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala, as well as staunch DMK ally, Thirumavalavan, president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
“EPS is prepared to accept the leadership of an alliance led by Vijay and dump the BJP. Having ensured that a few AIADMK supporters raise the TVK flags, he has made that comment. Vijay maintains that he would head an alliance and if that is so is AIADMK so weak to accept it? AIADMK under EPS had become EDMK and with EPS as the Chief Ministerial face of the NDA alliance it will get not more than 15 percent vote share,” he told reporters at Thiruvannamalai.
“In the event of Vijay agreeing to a poll pact with the AIADMK, EPS will not hesitate to desert the BJP. He has rejected the unification of AIADMK factions and MGR-Jayalalithaa loyalists despite the sincere efforts of leaders in Delhi,” he added.
Meanwhile, Thirumavalavan, speaking to reporters in Chennai, questioned the rationale behind EPS hoping for a tie-up with Vijay who had declared the BJP as the TVK’s ideological enemy.
“Since Vijay had been reiterating that the BJP is the TVK’s ideological adversary, how will he align with the AIADMK which is now a part of the BJP-led NDA? If he dumps the BJP and teams up with Vijay that will erode the credibility of the AIADMK and that of EPS,” he said, debunking rumours of the VCK moving toward the TVK by deserting the DMK combine.