Venkaiah Naidu the Senior BJP leader who was also the BJP President earlier was drafted to take care of Tamilandu issues after the death of Jayalalithaa. He was in touch with OPS directly and indirectly. But O Panneerselvam, who has staged a dramatic rebellion against AIADMK chief VK Sasikala, has asserted that he is acting alone and has “no connections with the BJP.
Venkaiah is a seasoned politician and he has got enough experience from the Senior NTR times in dealing with situations like this. He was instrumental in getting back NTR to power when Nadendla Bhaskar Rao dethroned him.
” But in the usually quiet and unassuming leader’s solitary defiance of his party’s decision to appoint Ms Sasikala, Tamil Nadu’s next chief minister, a powerful backing is seen.
Delhi prefers OPS over Sasikala, there is no doubt about it. OPS could handle the crisis during the Jayalalithaas death and is could handle law and order properly during the Jallikattu crisis. OPS is a man of few words, but knows things well and when to operate.
Important for the BJP is the AIADMK’s strength in Parliament – the party has 37 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 13 in Rajya Sabha and have proved crucial in helping the government push important legislation, especially in the Upper House where it is in a minority.
The BJP would also like to enlist the AIADMK’s support when the President and Vice President are chosen later this year. BJP is among the parties that has suggested that she take oath only after the court’s ruling.
“I am not operating at the BJP’s behest,” said Mr Panneerselvam this morning reacting to reports that his dissent has the backing of the BJP’s top leadership.
“I don’t wish to comment on the internal rift in the AIADMK. The Centre and the BJP have no role to play in this,” said Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
“As Governor refuses to conduct swearing in, an outgoing Tamil Nadu CM rebels. Is PM Modi trying to bring down one more elected Govt?” tweeted the Congress’ Randeep Surjewala.
U.Srinivas
Editor
