Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s Tamil Nadu visit for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he faces the formidable task of revitalising the BJP”s political standing in a state where the party”s influence has dwindled to a mere 3 per cent vote share. Compounded by the break-up with its erstwhile ally AIADMK, the BJP finds itself in a tight spot with no major allies to rely on.
PM Modi will be on a two-day visit to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra on February 27-28. He will reach Tamil Nadu this afternoon.
Both the dominant Dravidian opponents, the incumbent DMK aligned with the INDIA bloc and its former partner AIADMK, have maintained a cautious distance from the BJP. Currently, the BJP”s only notable collaboration is with GK Vasan, the leader of Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC). Reports hint at Puthiya Thamizhagam and several other minor allies are contemplating a shift towards the DMK camp.
PM Modi”s rally at Palladam in Tiruppur district today serves as the culmination of BJP state unit chief K Annamalai”s extensive padayatra, covering all 233 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu. Undeterred by the challenges, Annamalai, drawing upon PM Modi”s influence, envisions the rally evolving from a mere BJP event into a broader people”s movement.
In its bid to challenge the ruling DMK, the BJP has centered its discourse on combating corruption and nepotism entrenched in the Dravidian political landscape. The DMK, buoyed by its landslide victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is vocally opposing the BJP on issues ranging from federal rights infringement to neglecting disaster-stricken regions like Chennai and Tuticorin.
The AIADMK, which won just one seat in the last national election and lost both state elections it fought with the BJP, is fighting for the first time under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS).
In the face of these challenges, all eyes are on PM Modi whether he will go beyond pro-Tamil rhetoric to offer concrete solutions, including substantial financial aid, relief packages and Tamil Nadu”s persistent plea for NEET exemption.
