Chennai: AIADMK defied “pressure” from Delhi and voted against Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, signalling a commitment to minority interests even as there is talk of reviving ties with BJP, multiple sources told TOI.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami consistently opposed the Waqf Bill, aligning with DMK’s stand. The AIADMK’s four Rajya Sabha members, including M Thambidurai, C Ve Shanmugam, N Chandrasegharan, and R Dharmar, an O Panneerselvam supporter, all voted against the bill. The AIADMK’s shifting stand on key legislative issues is notable.
The party’s backing of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and its fluctuating stand on Triple Talaq Bill impacted its prospects in earlier elections. A senior AIADMK leader said, “Now, we are sending out a clear message that the AIADMK’s intention is to protect minority interests regardless of potential alliances – whether an alliance with BJP shapes up or not.” Sources indicate that the party faced pressure to abstain from voting.
During the Rajya Sabha debate, senior AIADMK leader Thambidurai emphasised the party’s concerns about the Centre’s intention to alter the composition of waqf boards.
“In India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, we have a huge population of Muslims. The AIADMK is keen that interests of Muslim-cum-minority communities should be protected and safeguarded. So, I request the present govt to see that AIADMK’s plea (to withdraw the bill) is considered,” he said, pointing to the welfare programmes initiated by former chief ministers M G Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa, and Palaniswami. The AIADMK attributes its defeat in the 2021 assembly election to a sharp decline in minority vote share.
In September, Palaniswami criticised the state govt for not inviting all stakeholders, including political parties, to joint parliamentary committee meeting on the waqf Bill held in Chennai. Apparently, Palaniswami had arranged to depute representatives from the minority wing to express opposition to the proposed amendments.
Dharmar attributed his decision to vote against the Waqf Bill to instructions from former AIADMK coordinator Panneerselvam.
“My leader OPS told me to vote against the bill. This is in adherence to the principles of our leaders, MGR and Amma,” AIADMK MP Dharmar told TOI.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss was absent during the vote. TMC leader G K Vasan supported the bill. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, who rejected the bill in its entirety, said “It is legally flawed, constitutionally indefensible and morally reprehensible.”