Annamalai. File
| Photo Credit: J. Manoharan
Former president of the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit K. Annamalai on Thursday (July 17, 2025) said he stands by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s position that a coalition government will be formed in Tamil Nadu if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is voted to power in the State next year. He said if the AIADMK, which heads the NDA in Tamil Nadu, holds a different view on this matter, the party can take it up with Mr. Shah (considered a key strategist of the BJP).
Speaking to the media after appearing at the Saidapet Court in connection with a defamation case filed against him by DMK MP T.R. Baalu, Mr. Annamalai said the alliance was conceived by the Union Home Minister himself and that he had no role in reviving the ties between the AIADMK and BJP. “As a party worker, it is my duty to stand by what my leaders say. Amit Shah ji has clearly spoken about this [coalition government] several times in his interviews to various dailies,” he said.
Responding to remarks made by DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva on veteran Congress leader K. Kamaraj, he said the DMK had no right to talk about the late leader, as the party was solely responsible for defeating him in the 1967 elections by “spreading lies.” Later, when there was a split in the Congress party, the DMK aligned with the faction led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and prevented Kamaraj from emerging as a national leader. He also alleged Mr. Siva had misrepresented history by distorting the truth.
Further, Mr. Annamalai said the DMK should release a white paper on the poll promises it had made in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections. He also claimed several alliance partners of the DMK are on the verge of exiting the coalition.
Published – July 17, 2025 05:15 pm IST
