Alliance with BJP will continue for 2021 polls, says AIADMK as Amit Shah visits Tamil Nadu

On the day BJP leader Amit Shah landed in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK said its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will continue for the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly election.

Deputy CM O Panneerselvam said BJP and AIADMK will continue its alliance for the upcoming election while Chief Minister E Palaniswami added that the party will continue with its tie-up with the BJP.

“Our Lok Sabha alliance with BJP will continue. We have given 10 years of good governance,” said Palaniswami and added, “Our alliance will win 2021 polls. Tamil Nadu will always support PM Modi.”

As Amit Shah walked the streets of Chennai on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam called the BJP leader modern-day Chanakya.

With the announcement, Panneerselvam put all rumours to rest and said BJP and AIADMK will continue with the alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections in 2021.

AIADMK top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami made the announcement at a government event in Chennai that was attended by Amit Shah.

AIADMK and BJP had aligned for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, along with others, including PMK, but the combine could win only the lone Theni seat out of the 39 segments in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling party clinching it.

Speculation was rife if the BJP-AIADMK alliance would continue after the recent war of words between the alliance partners over BJP’s Vel Yatra in Tamil Nadu. There was disappointment among BJP leaders for



not being able to do their Vel Yatra.

The government had denied permission to the BJP's Vel Yatra, aimed at exposing the DMK for "lending support" to an atheist group accused of denigrating Tamil hymn 'Kanda Sashti Kavacham', sung in praise of Lord Muruga, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The AIADMK had recently lashed out at its saffron ally on the matter and accused it of attempting vote bank politics.

BJP state president L Murugan has been courting arrest in different towns after trying to take out the procession despite denial of permission.

Speaking at the event with the AIADMK leaders, Amit Shah said, “When Modi ji visited Sri Lanka, he didn't forget Jaffna. He visited Tamil colonies there and met with the Tamil brothers and sisters. He laid foundation stone for providing them houses. Over 50,000 Tamils will get houses and damaged temples will be rejuvenated in Sri Lanka”.

Hitting out at opposition DMK, Amit Shah said, “Sometimes I heard DMK leaders speaking of injustice done to Tamil Nadu. DMK and Congress were at the Centre for 10 years. We are ready for a debate on whether Tamil Nadu got more help in those 10 years or during the tenure of our government.”

“With all humility, we state that the schemes and funds provided to Tamil Nadu by the central government are not meant for help but it is the right of Tamil Nadu that were not being given to it but Modiji ensured that now Tamil Nadu gets its dues,” said Amit Shah.