O Panneerselvam joined PM Modi in Varanasi when the latter filed his nomination papers.
Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam has denied reports that he plans to join the BJP. Calling it a lie, he said in statement, "Even when I die, I'd deem it an honour to be draped with AIADMK flag."
The speculations began after Mr Panneerselvam, or OPS, joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi earlier this week when PM Mod filed his nomination papers for the national election.
Some reports on social media even suggested that OPS was keen to become a Governor as a quid pro co.
J Jayalalithaa, the late AIADMK chief and four-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, had refrained from joining hands with the BJP after 1998. However, after her death, her party formed an alliance with the national party that is in power at the centre.
The BJP was given five of the state's 39 parliamentary seats to contest from in the national election.
Critics allege that the national party which, has a negligible presence in Tamil Nadu, arm-twisted the AIASMK for alliance by taking advantage of the corruption cases against several of its ministers and senior bureaucrats. The CBI and the Income Tax authorities had raided the state Health Minister, police chief and the Chief Secretary. The BJP has denied these allegations.
Citing the personal rapport Jayalalithaa had shared with PM Modi from his years as Gujarat chief minister and how they attended each other's swearing-in ceremonies, Mr Panneerselvam said, "We only follow Jayalalithaa's path, having friendly ties with the BJP. I am sad that attempts are being made to hurt me and my political life."
Jayallithaa had made OPS the Chief Minister twice when she had to step down because of her conviction in the corruption cases. Though he was made the Chief Minister following Jayalalithaa's death, he was soon replaced by E Palaniswami. Mr Palaniswami, or EPS, was handpicked by Jayalalithaa's aide VK Sasikala who too was convicted in the disproportionate assets case.
After several months of tug of war, OPS and EPS patched up.
While OPS was made the Deputy Chief Minister and co-ordinator of the party, EPS was made the AIADMK's deputy co-ordinator. A high-level committee under the two leaders steers the party at present.
Though both leaders claim they work as a double-barreled gun, many say there is still a silent tussle for the top job in the state.