Yesterday in a meeting of district office bearers, TN BJP President Annamalai sounded quite upset. He looked like a frustrated man. A desperately sounding Annamalai said, “I do not accept ADMK’s alliance. You all may not agree. For the growth of the party, my decision is to go alone. If the party high command rejects this plan, I will put in my papers. This is my frank opinion. Many of you may not like it. But, I won’t change my decision. It is final”.
Annamalai is not a person to speak his heart out. He knew very well this news will leak. And it did leak. Many wondered why was Annamalai so forthcoming. He still enjoys the backing of Modi. Modi never trusts the RSS. But the power equation is in such a manner that Modi can’t afford to take the RSS head on.
He likes grooming his own leaders, who will owe their loyalty only to him. He is grooming Annamalai.
Annamalai is bent upon contesting alone. He doesn’t want to travel with ADMK for multiple reasons. He cannot work with Edappadi Palanisamy. They don’t see eye to eye anymore. And EPS is least bothered about the alliance. Being a leader of good steel, he has told his confidants. “Vidunga Thambi pathukalam. Avanga Illanna jeyika mudiyadha. Namakku namba katchi irukku”. The divide is too long its impossible to bridge.
Annamalai was incommunicado for a week. In fact he claimed he was not well. He had several meetings with Modi’s confidants. Only after these series of meetings, yesterday’s outburst.
A senior leader in RSS, who is privy to the developments, said, “Annamalai has been asked to execute a plan. The DMK is already on board and are crawling when asked to bend. Edappadi Palanisamy too won’t be averse to any alliance with NDA post elections. Everyone believes BJP will form 2024 government. No regional party is ready to take on BJP. BRS and KCR are opposed of course. That is why Kavitha Chandrasekar Rao is haunted. ED may not arrest her too. Whether there is arrest or not will decide BRS’s anti BJP position.
All others are already in the kitty. Let us come to Tamil Nadu. They don’t want both ADMK to DMK to survive independently. If they ran 2024 with ADMK, all they may get is 3 to 4 MPs. The status quo will continue. Tamil Nadu is never in the radar for BJP’s national plans. This is just a trial field.
Annamalai is likely to lead a third front in Tamil Nadu. BJP will lead the alliance. OPS, TTV Dinakaran and Sashikala will join the front. Devendra Kula Vellalar leaders will fall in line. South is done. West will be managed with Annamalai and others’ caste back ground. To fill the lag, BJP State Vice President Kanagasabapathy, a Gounder will be made party President. Annamalai will be elevated as National General Secretary and made a Prabhari of a state. However, CT Ravi and Annamalai will continue to run things in TN, with Kanagasabapathy, a silent player paying obeisance to the high command for his position.
ADMK is a natural ally for BJP and a post election alliance with ADMK will be convenient and comfortable. And the ADMK can be arm twisted with a caution not to ally with the Congress and give them a life line. Whereas though the DMK is ready to support, DMK is ideologically against the BJP. Fighting the DMK in the election will be beneficial for BJP and will elevate Annamalai’s stature. For Annamalai it’s a win win situation.
If he wins a couple of seats, on his own, he will be a hero. If he increases BJP’s vote share to say around 8 to 10% he will be a bigger hero. Why would he not do that ?
What is the situation of Congress in TN ? It is caught between devil and deep sea. It will be isolated. Whatever left of the congress under KS Alagiri will be finished after Jyothimani takes over shortly.
Already the Congress is being isolated in the liquor scam that has hit the AAP. The oppositions is vertically divided. TMC and Cong don’t see eye to eye. Samajwadi Party doesn’t want Congress, at least for UP. It is the DMK and a limited number of parties that still toe the Congress line.
If BJP is away from ADMK, the VCK, the Left and Muslim League will go with ADMK. After elections ADMK will of course go with BJP. VCK, the Left and Muslim League can’t go with DMK, as they will be supporting BJP in important bills. Their only option is Congress. If they are arm-twisted to stay away, or even if they dare to join Congress isn’t it a bonus for BJP ? All their enemies VCK, the Left and Muslim League will perish along with Congress.
What if BJP’s enforcement wing viz. law enforcement agencies, set against DMK ? Won’t they ditch the Congress ? They will in double time. It looks like a possibility that Congress is limited to below 30 with the winnability crushed in all possible constituencies using the regional parties ? Even if DMK wins a few seats, those eggs will be in BJP’s kitty if and when they hatch. And the business relationship with the son in law with the scion of a top BJP leader has cemented the secret deal. Whether this deal will protect DMK from the law enforcement agencies, is anybody’s guess.
Just assume Cong gets 27. Isn’t it Congress Mukth Bharat ?” said the RSS source. The replacement of Annamalai is not confirmed till now. Annamalai is fighting everyone in his party. All the leaders have ganged up against Annamalai. They have categorically said, Annamalai needs to be replaced. If Annamalai is not replaced, there may be a rebellion and an exodus. Party is leaking like a dam.
A good team is required for Tamil Nadu to fight 2024 alone. To pacify the team, Annamalai needs to be replaced. Annamalai also should not feel slighted. He will continue to have a big say in TN politics. He will lead the campaign. However, his position might have become untenable owing to making the entire party his enemy. A compromise formula would be to replace Annamalai and have a timid person who won’t leak info and who will never rebel. Professor Kanagasapathy, fits the picture.
This plan has been discussed by the top brass of RSS and BJP and everyone approved the plan said the source. He further added that, once the BJP finishes off Congress, the regional parties’ are child’s play.’
He seems to be right. And the RSS is capable of conceiving and executing this plan. How the Congress is going to survive depends on
