Palaniswami charges BJP with double standards over Karunanidhi coin release controversy
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami turned sharp on BJP state president K. Annamalai over his comments relating to the release of a commemorative coin for late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran in 2019. Palaniswami met and accused the BJP of hypocrisy and being “double-faced” over their recent actions surrounding the commemorative coin release for former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
Allegations against BJP’s Double Standards
Palaniswami flayed Annamalai for the BJP’s double standards when it comes to their allies. “In 2019, when the MGR commemorative coin was released, though the NDA was in power at the Centre, the State AIADMK government did not invite any Union Ministers to the function,” Palaniswami says. He added, “On the contrary, he said, the DMK regime invited Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to unveil a commemorative Rs 100 coin for M. Karunanidhi’s birth centenary on August 18”.
Palaniswami laid the blame at BJP’s secret connivance with the ruling DMK contrary to what was perceived in the public domain. He said BJP’s acts were contradictory as it condemned AIADMK wherever it liked and partner with DMK when expedient.
“There was no alliance between AIADMK and BJP during MGR’s commemorative coin release. He now says Annamalai is corrupt, did he not realise this while we were in alliance? It’s only now after we have parted ways that the BJP calls out AIADMK. This is BJP’s double face,” Palaniswami said.
The Dynamics of an AIADMK-BJP Alliance
The AIADMK-BJP relationship has been pretty seesaw in nature for quite a few years now. The two contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together. But things came sore once Annamalai made critical comments recently against Dravidian icon, late CN Annadurai; the relationship turned sour and made the AIADMK break the alliance in September last year.
It is viewed against the background of recent statements by Palaniswami, wherein very clearly, the AIADMK has stated that the party would not side with BJP in the future for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, meaning a conscious departure from the earlier electoral strategy, thereby marking an announcement for realignment of the political stance for AIADMK.
Palaniswami Hits Out at Annamalai for Lack of Political Credibility
He did not mince words against Annamalai but questioned a lot about his understanding and involvement in Tamil Nadu politics. He tried to drive home the point of his commitment and service to the state all these years with what he termed as no significant contribution from Annamalai’s end.
“In my case, it has taken 52 years for me to become the Chief Minister or the General Secretary of the party. Many issues arose in between,” he said, pointing out his commitment in contrast to Annamalai’s entry into politics only recently.
He then attacked Annamalai, saying, “His only investment is his tongue. What has he done for Tamil Nadu as BJP state president? What funds has he brought in? Even during floods, he couldn’t secure any funds. His aim is to make himself prominent, not to serve Tamil Nadu.”
There Is a Larger Play of Political Strategy at Work
In fact, the broader context for the above remarks by Palaniswami is to position AIADMK as the sole independent entity in Tamil Nadu politics. Maybe what Palaniswami is doing here, with this distancing from BJP or the top leadership, is very clearly coming back to cement his support base and drive home the commitment of AIADMK to Tamil Nadu’s regional and Dravidian identity.
This strategy could also be a reaction to the growing popularity of the DMK in state politics. By this attack on BJP and exposition of the so-called secret alliance between DMK and BJP, Palaniswami is trying to weave a narrative that AIADMK alone is the savior of Tamil Nadu’s interests from external forces.
The MGR Legacy and Popular Culture
But, strangely enough, when questioned about the use of MG Ramachandran’s image in a new party anthem video for actor Thalapathy Vijay’s nascent political party, he voiced pride. MGR is a powerful symbol in the political and cultural history of Tamil Nadu, a memory that still has a pull. In aligning himself with such a legacy, Palaniswami attempts to make even more concrete AIADMK’s historical roots and its claim to be the rightful heir to MGR’s political vision.
Conclusion: Turning Point of Politics in Tamil Nadu ?
The row over the release of the commemorative coin for M. Karunanidhi and the allegations levelled against BJP by Palaniswami are just testimony about this change of politics in Tamil Nadu. What the senior AIADMK leader is already attempting to do is to forge this new identity for the party, keeping the 2026 Assembly polls in mind—away from BJP, and all ready and angling against the DMK.
Not all of Palaniswami’s attacks on Annamalai were aimed at him alone. Rather, they laid down an insinuation for laying damages at the credibility of the BJP in the state by showing how the party was oblivious to the unique political landscape of Tamil Nadu. In the coming months, these parties will jockey for advantage in this arguably the most politically vibrant of Indian states. The real million-dollar question would be now: Will this strategy really help the AIADMK, and how?.
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