Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai has hit back at Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar after the latter referred to him as a “poor man” during a press interaction in Chennai on Saturday. Annamalai’s quick-witted response took aim at Shivakumar’s alleged aspirations to replace Siddaramaiah as Karnataka’s Chief Minister.
While in Chennai for a DMK-led meeting on the delimitation issue, DK Shivakumar was greeted with black flags by BJP workers in protest. In response to the demonstration, Shivakumar said, “I welcome all these BJP black flags. I have never been afraid, even when they sent me to Tihar Jail. This officer (Annamalai), poor man, is from my state. He has served us and knows our strength. Let him do his job. I wish him all the best.”
In a social media post reacting to these remarks, Annamalai responded, “Indeed, I have dutifully served the people of Karnataka as a police officer. Thank you for the acknowledgment, Thiru @DKShivakumar avare. Also, I appreciate your kind words for this ‘poor man.’ Wishing you success in your relentless pursuit of becoming Karnataka’s Chief Minister by dethroning Thiru Siddaramaiah from his position.”
In addition to this, Annamalai also took aim at Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, who convened the meeting with like-minded parties to discuss the delimitation issue. The BJP leader criticized the gathering as a “delusional drama,” stating, “While TN CM Thiru MK Stalin puts on his delusional show on delimitation, we hope he will play the speech of DMK Minister Thiru TM Anbarasan for his I.N.D.I. Alliance partners. It seems as though DMK ministers have collectively decided to insult and demean our brothers and sisters from northern India.”