Annamalai Stands Firm on Corruption Remarks, Rejects AIADMK’s Criticism

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai has responded to criticism from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regarding his remarks indirectly targeting former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Annamalai, who is in an alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, advised them not to lecture him on “alliance dharma.”

In an interview with a prominent English daily, Annamalai criticized the corruption in Tamil Nadu’s past administrations and the conviction of former Chief Ministers in court. He suggested that Tamil Nadu had become one of the most corrupt states and emphasized the need to question any government involved in misusing public funds.

In response to AIADMK leader D Jayakumar’s warning about his comments potentially jeopardizing the BJP-AIADMK alliance, Annamalai stated that he was aware of the resolution against him and Jayakumar’s comments, but he refrained from making derogatory remarks like his counterpart. Annamalai expressed his commitment to providing an explanation to the people and highlighted the issue of corruption in Tamil Nadu, which hampers the effective implementation of public welfare schemes.

Regarding the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Kumar’s premises as part of a money laundering investigation, Annamalai expressed his concern, stating that such incidents should not occur in his state.

In another development, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran criticized Annamalai, branding him as an “inexperienced politician” and highlighting his alleged lack of knowledge about political history, particularly in relation to Jayalalithaa.