Regional parties fear BJP’s growth, Karu Nagarajan says

CHENNAI: BJP vice-president

Karu Nagarajan

on Thursday said the growth of the party has created fear among regional parties in the state. He refuted AIADMK organising secretary and former minister

C Ponnaiyan

’s remark against the saffron party that it did not fight for the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu and said, “such remark is hurting the alliance sentiment.”


Ponnaiyan, in a recent party internal meeting, said that they should not allow the BJP to grow at the expense of AIADMK and the party functionaries should expose the “double standards” of the saffron party in inter-state issues.

“We are in the field with the people and continuously protesting for TN people’s rights. We protested on November 8 in Theni in connection with Mullaperiyar dam issue and held a massive hunger protest in Thanjavur on August 5 against Mekedatu row,” Nagarajan told reporters, referring to sharp criticisms from the senior leader of its ally AIADMK that the BJP never had raised it voice for the state’s rights.

“The party is growing. It creates fear among the regional parties, including the allies like AIADMK and PMK,” he said.

V P Duraisamy, another VP of the party, also lashed out at Ponnaiyan for his remark and said that he had made such statements over frustration of not getting the Rajya Sabha seat.

He said the leadership of AIADMK should seek explanation from Ponnaiyan regarding his statement against the BJP.

Nagarajan said PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss had appealed to party functionaries to dissuade their sympathisers and cadre from joining the BJP.