Chances for Panneerselvam’s return to AIADMK, revival of AIADMK-BJP alliance remote

AIADMK unlikely to reconcile with BJP, as leaders express strong opposition, impacting future alliances and electoral prospects.

The chances for the return of leaders including former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the revival of ties between the Dravidian major and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appear to be remote. 

This conclusion can be inferred from the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami firmly reiterating his position against any reconciliation with his former colleagues; the ousted coordinator, Mr. Panneerselvam’s retort and the disapproval by the party’s IT wing secretary,  V.V.R. Raj Satyen, of the “message” behind Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan’s greetings on the party formation day.

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On Thursday, Mr Palaniswami was emphatic in making the observation that “those who have been expelled [from the party] remain expelled.” The next day came the angry reaction of Mr. Panneerselvam, who is now heading the ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee, that the AIADMK “has gone to the dogs with the advent of betrayal.”

He went on to point out that during the Lok Sabha election, the party had forfeited deposits in seven constituencies with its vote share falling to 20%. “If the [present] situation continues, not only will the party not be able to capture power, regardless of the passage of years,  but also its vote share will keep on sliding further,” Mr. Pannerselvam observed. The statements by the two warring leaders have put a lid on all the talk that there will soon be rapprochement. 

Meanwhile, Mr Satyen’s reply on his social media handle to the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister’s greetings has made it clear that the AIADMK would not like to re-establish its ties with the BJP. 

It is evident that the Dravidian major has not considered the message favourably, given the fact that in the neighbouring State, both his Janasena Party is an ally of the national party and the two parties are constituents of the coalition government headed by the Telugu Desam.