PM Narendra Modi is Our Daddy After ‘Amma’ Jayalalithaa’s Demise, Says Tamil Nadu Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji

J Jayalalithaa had notably, avoided getting into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the AIADMK announced a tie-up with the BJP for upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on February 19. Explaining the reason behind this, Tamil Nadu minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji said, “Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) decision is different. But, in the absence of (such a great) personality, Modi is India’s daddy.”

Chennai: Tamil Nadu minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji referred Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the ‘daddy’ or ‘father’ of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Bhalaji said, “Modi is our daddy. We accept his leadership,” in response to a question as to how the AIADMK established an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when their late leader Jayalalithaa, had avoided the alliance.

The TN leader further explained, “Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) decision is different. But, in the absence of (such a great) personality, Modi is India’s daddy.”

Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, the BJP and AIADMK had announced their alliance on February 19. The two parties would also fight the parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry together, Union minister Piyush Goyal had announced in the presence of CM E Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam.

The AIADMK had made it clear that it would contest in not less than 25 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu while the BJP will contest from the remaining 15 seats. Both parties had agreed to allocate seats to smaller parties from their share. Dravida Munnetra Murpoku Kazhagam (DMDK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT), NR Congress and other small regional parties will be part of the grand coalition in the state.