VK Sasikala's sidelined loyalists and Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu see an "invisible hand" of the ruling BJP government at the Centre behind the sudden ouster of Sasikala and her clan from AIADMK and its government in the state paving the way for the return of the O Panneerselvam faction.
After meeting the party's Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran at his residence on Wednesday morning, AIADMK spokesperson and Sasikala loyalist Nanjil Sampath accused the BJP of using the Income-Tax Department to force his party ministers to take the decision of sidelining Sasikala.
"The BJP wanted its party flag to fly in all the states in the country. Tamil Nadu is the land of Periyar (founder of Dravidar Kazhagam) and Anna (former chief minister CN Annadurai). In the Dravidian land, communal forces have no chance for creating its own foothold. So the BJP is using the I-T Department and other means to force the minister to sideline Sasikala and her family," he said.
A senior leader from Western Tamil Nadu who is part of the Sasikala faction said that it was the BJP that is controlling both the factions through the threat of the I-T department. "If the raid on PWD Minister Sekhar Reddy made Panneerselvam vulnerable, the seizure of documents allegedly revealing that Health Minister C Vijayabaskar gave money to voters led to top AIADMK leaders surrendering to the Centre," the leader said.
"By sidelining Sasikala and her clan, the BJP will get the support of 50-odd MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the ensuing elections for the President and Vice-President's posts. It can also enter into an alliance for the 2019 general elections helping the Narendra Modi government win a second term," the AIADMK leader added.
Interestingly, Dinakaran, who addressed the media on Wednesday, did not hold the BJP responsible even when repeatedly asked about his loyalists making such claims. He said that the ministers took the decision due to some fear or the other, but did not elaborate on the same. Asked if he was being "targeted" by way of I-T raids on Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and countermanding of the April 12 RK Nagar by-poll, he simply said "maybe". Putting up a brave face, he said he will tackle the situation. "They can put me behind bars at the most. If that is my destiny, I will face it and come out," he said.
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