A week has passed since the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announced its exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP’s central leadership has not said anything about the break-up and has also asked its State functionaries not to comment on the issue. The silence of the party, which has often demonstrated its ability to be decisive and outmanoeuvre others, indicates that it was not well-prepared for the AIADMK’s drastic move.
The AIADMK’S professed reason for the separation was that BJP State president K. Annamalai made controversial remarks against its leaders. The AIADMK may have had other reasons too for its exit, including the apprehension that prolonging the alliance may allow the BJP to grow at its cost. But regarding Mr. Annamalai, the AIADMK had repeatedly expressed its discontent, in vain. That the BJP allowed the AIADMK to break ties over this reason indicates that the responsibility lies with the national party.
There is speculation that the BJP’s silence is an indication that a patch-up is still on the cards. However, the chances of this happening are remote. The AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Monday said that the exit was not his decision, but that of all the party cadres, as reflected in the party’s resolution, which was final.. A volte-face may dent the image of the AIADMK, which has just tried to shed the perception of being subservient to the BJP.
