Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai Criticizes DMK Government After BSP Leader’s Murder

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 6: Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K Annamalai has raised concerns about the safety of citizens under the DMK rule following the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president K Armstrong. Speaking at the BJP’s state executive committee meeting, Annamalai said, “Yesterday, a party leader was hacked to death. There is no guarantee for a common man’s life in this DMK-led state government.”

The BSP leader was killed by a mob near his home in Perambur, Chennai. Annamalai also criticized the DMK government for the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which resulted in 65 deaths. He stated, “Illicit liquor is flowing like a river, and nobody has the guts to tell, speak, and raise a voice against it. If they speak and raise voices, they have a life threat.”

The BJP’s state executive committee meeting, attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is the first major meeting after the Lok Sabha election results on June 4. The BJP increased its vote share to 11.1% in the 2024 general election but did not win any seats. The AIADMK, BJP’s former ally, ended their alliance before the election, accusing Annamalai of disrespecting Dravidian political icons.

Union Minister L Murugan also condemned Armstrong’s murder, stating that the DMK government has failed to maintain law and order. He said, “A National Party’s state president was unable to survive because of the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. The DMK government has totally failed to maintain law and order in the state.”

Referring to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, Murugan added, “10 days ago, almost 70 people died due to illicit liquor… The Tamil Nadu CM controls the Police and Home Ministry, and he is failing at it. Rahul Gandhi is visiting Hathras but does not know where Kallakurichi is. Political leaders are being murdered; they don’t have safety; where is the state headed?”

Chennai police have arrested eight suspects and formed a special team to investigate Armstrong’s murder. CM Stalin expressed grief over the incident and assured that the police would expedite the investigation to bring the culprits to justice.