'Useless without family's name': Annamalai hits back at Dayanidhi Maran after his 'joker' remark

livemint.com:

Dayanidhi Maran had recently dismissed Annamalai as a "joker" and a "lame duck" who was being “overestimating" for his role in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. In an interview with India Today, Maran dismissed the challenge posed by Annamalai in the Lok Sabha polls by saying "Who's that? Oh, the Joker, you are talking about the Joker. Are you overestimating, he is a lame duck." He was asked about the "fear of Annamalai" in the political arena and if the BJP Tamil Nadu chief was the rising star of the saffron party.

Maran, however, stood by his remarks even after facing a backlash from the Prime Minister himself. He reiterated that Annamalai keeps on changing his stance on issues, just like a “chameleon". Maran also called the BJP leader a “good entertainer" needed in politics.

“First, he was against NEET. Now he supports NEET. He says that he doesn't know Hindi.

Then he now speaks fluent Hindi. He keeps on changing his colours like a Chameleon. He behaves like a joker," he said.

"So I stand by my stand words. He is a joker. We need people like him.

He's a good entertainer. Please Annamalai, continue," Maran added. While addressing a rally in Coimbatore's Mettupalayam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi jumped to Annamalai's defence and said Maran's remarks reflects the character of the ruling party and its 'arrogance against the great culture of Tamil Nadu'.

"DMK is a party that is immersed in the arrogance of power. When a senior leader of DMK was asked about our young leader Annamalai, he said in arrogance 'Who is he, who is that' and used insulting words. This arrogance is against Tamil Nadu's great culture.