Chennai, May 3 -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday hit out at All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, alleging that his decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was driven by a need to protect his leadership position within the AIADMK.

While addressing the gathering at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) district secretaries meeting, Stalin said that the BJP has used "pressure tactics" to "subdue" the AIADMK.

"The BJP is trying in every possible way to establish a foothold in Tamil Nadu. To achieve this, it has used all kinds of pressure tactics and has subdued the AIADMK. Palaniswami has no other choice. He fears that if he does not accept the BJP alliance...