EPS’s party drops ally BJP from posters, hours before key polling

Chennai:

In clear signs of growing friction between Tamil Nadu’s main opposition AIADMK under Edappadi K Palanisamy (EPS) and its ally BJP, the Dravidian party quietly dumped its ally BJP a few hours ahead of the bypoll to the Erode East assembly constituency. For February 27th.

The posters put up at the party office on Wednesday morning did not have the photographs of BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The name of the alliance was also changed from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to the ‘National Democratic Progressive Alliance’. However, hours later, with BJP state chief K Annamalai saying that “a befitting reply will be given”, the name of the alliance was restored.

An AIADMK leader, who did not wish to be named, told NDTV, “The EPS has sent a clear message to the BJP. They should know their place in Tamil Nadu.”

The trouble started when the BJP, which has a minor presence in the state with four MLAs in the 234-member assembly, started projecting itself as the principal opposition in the state over the past year and a half. Leadership struggle between EPS and OPS after Jayalalithaa’s death.

Though the seat was contested by GK Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress, another ally, in 2021, the BJP gave strong indications of contesting the bypoll soon after the Election Commission called for the polls. Then the EPS got a seat from the Tamil Maanila Congress and announced that the AIADMK would contest the elections.

Though late AIADMK boss Jayalalithaa never aligned with the BJP, O Panneerselvam (OPS) and EPS, who jointly led the party after her death, forged an alliance with the BJP and lost both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. .

BJP state vice-president Narayanan Thirupati said, “We feel the name issue was a mistake. He rectified it after realizing it. There is no reason or friction between us.” It is expected that the National Party can reveal its stand in this changed scenario today.

This is the first election for EPS after becoming the sole leader of the AIADMK. Lok Sabha elections are due in 2024 and it seems he is showing his political muscle.

The poll symbol of two leaves for the AIADMK appears elusive for this election as EPS’s rival and expelled leader, OPS, is the party’s boss in poll panel records and the matter is in the apex court.

While former MLA Thennarasu will be the AIADMK candidate, OPS declared Senthil Murugan as its candidate and veteran Congress leader EVKS Elangovan is the DMK alliance candidate.

The death of Thirumahan Evra, son of Mr. Elangovan, led to the by-election.