Panneerselvam harps on Modi-Jaya bond to dismiss 'BJP switch' rumours

A week ago, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination to run for the Lok Sabha polls at Varanasi, a large crowd was present. Not just political leaders from the BJP, but leaders from the NDA constituents were seen at the waiting hall when Modi went to file his papers. And among them were Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK party coordinator O. Panneerselvam.

While Panneerselvam said that he was in Varanasi to perform rituals for his father, he also took part in the massive BJP rally.

Rumours, though not the first time, started doing the rounds, as Panneerselvam was spotted in the rally along with his son O.P. Raveendranath Kumar, who contested the Lok Sabha polls from his fiefdom, Theni near Madurai. Panneerselvam's political opponents like Thangatamil Selvan had said the deputy chief minister had gone to meet Modi to seek a Rajya Sabha seat for his son. Others said Panneerselvam is likely to join the BJP soon.

"I am saddened by the reports, which were aimed at hurting me and my political career," Panneerselvam said, decrying the reports of him joining the BJP in an emotionally worded four-page statement issued on Wednesday.

Panneerselvam described his three-decade-long journey in the AIADMK, which began with his first stint as the chairman of the Periyakulam Municipality, to holding the portfolios of revenue, public works department and finance in Tamil Nadu to being the chief minister thrice and also the treasurer of the AIADMK for 12 years.

Panneerselvam said that some sections of the “agenda-driven” media are trying to spread rumours.

"A movement started by Puratchi Thalaivar has given a common man from Periyakulam. No amount of gratitude from me or my family or my future generations will suffice for the opportunities given to me by former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa," he said.

Stating that he would work throughout his life to protect the AIADMK along with party co-coordinator Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Panneerselvam said his only ambition in life is to make AIADMK an “inevitable” part in the country's politics. "It will be an honour to be draped with the AIADMK flag on my coffin, when I die," Panneerselvam declared.

Stating that neither the cadres in his party nor the common people would fall for such rumours, Panneerselvam recalled the days when Jayalalithaa shared a close rapport and a smooth friendship with Modi. "We respect Narendra Modi, a leader who was respected by our leader Jayalalithaa, to show that we follow her footsteps and also to decide whether it supports the political future of the AIADMK, after getting feedback from our cadres."

Recalling the days of Jayalalithaa, in his statement, Panneerselvam gave a detailed account of how the former chief minister had a similar understanding with the BJP during the 1998 and 2004 Lok Sabha polls. He also recalled how Jayalalithaa, working with the BJP, ensured the election of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as president. Giving an account of the political relationship between Jayalalithaa and Modi, he said it was Jayalalithaa who ensured the adoption of several resolutions in the Rajya Sabha with the support of her party.

Saying that the main reason for the AIADMK and BJP coming together in an alliance is the concurrence in ideas of patriotism and belief in god, Panneerselvam said that "I am pained at the rumours."

However, this is not the first time that the rumours of Panneerselvam joining BJP has done the rounds. It may be recalled that Panneerselvam, particularly after launching his dharma yudh in 2017 to oust Sasikala and her larger family, openly agreed to his close relationship with the BJP. Of course, at a public meeting, he even openly admitted that the two factions, under him and Palaniswami, came together at the behest of Modi.