‘Not joining BJP’, says Panneerselvam in emotional statement

Speculation had begun to swirl after Panneerselvam travelled to Varanasi to attendPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement of filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha election.

Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam on Wednesday denied all speculations that he is likely to join BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets AIADMK cordinator and Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam as other NDA leaders look on, ahead of filing his nomination papers for Lok Sabha polls, in Varanasi, Friday, April 26, 2019. (PTI)

Speculation had begun to swirl after he travelled to Varanasi to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement of filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha election.

“After my visit to Varanasi to take part in PM Narendra Modi’s rally ahead of his nomination, many have started to hurt me by saying that I was about to join BJP. It is a hoax which was intentionally being spread by opposition parties. I am aware that AIADMK workers and TN people will not believe such rumours ... I am not having such plans,” he said in an emotional statement.

He further claimed that AIADMK and he only have friendly ties with BJP.

“It is evident that our leader Jayalalithaa had good friendship with PM Narendra Modi. She had attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at Gujarat. Modi too had come all the way to Chennai to attend our leader Jayalalithaa’s swearing-in ceremony. As we are following the footprints of our late CM Amma (Jayalalithaa), we are just maintaining cordial relationship with PM Modi,” he explained.

Panneerselvam also said that he will be happy with AIADMK workers if they lay the party flag on his mortal remains after his death.