Chennai: The Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) has stepped up its rhetoric in Tamil Nadu over the previous three years and tried to place itself as the primary opposition social gathering. However within the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, it’s now struggling to discover a place within the marketing campaign rhetoric.
The 2 most important Dravidian events – the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – have determined to maintain the battle between one another and successfully make it a bipolar contest.
Since 1967, it has been the DMK or the AIADMK that has dominated the state. This has been happening for over 56 years and no nationwide social gathering has gained a foothold in Tamil Nadu.
Of late, the DMK and the AIADMK have repeatedly downplayed the BJP of their campaigns as a ‘skinny social gathering’ and ‘a celebration with out stand committee members’ and have chosen to direct their criticism and responses solely at one another.
Whereas it seemed like a battle between the DMK and the BJP within the preliminary levels of the election marketing campaign, the DMK and the AIADMK have now realized that the BJP is attempting to middle itself within the political discourse within the state and have determined to disregard the social gathering . , in keeping with political analysts.
The BJP, political analysts added, plans to take second place within the Lok Sabha elections and turn out to be the primary opposition earlier than the 2026 state elections.
In accordance with the Dravidian events, there isn’t a room for any ‘exterior social gathering’ within the state. However the BJP stated the Dravidian events’ response is borne out of concern of dropping the Lok Sabha elections.
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Dravidian events ignore BJP
Throughout the candidate introductory assembly in Coimbatore on March 23, former AIADMK minister SP Velumani first emphasised that the true battle is with the DMK and that the BJP is on its technique to the third place.
Velumani even mocked the BJP and requested the social gathering to recruit sales space committee members earlier than competing with the AIADMK.
This rhetoric was quickly picked up by Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, the DMK accountable for the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, the place former mayor Ganapathy P. Rajkumar is contesting towards BJP state president Ok. Annamalai.
When reporters requested him about Annamalai’s criticism of the DMK manifesto on March 25, Rajaa stated the DMK would solely reply to points raised by the primary opposition social gathering particularly AIADMK. He additionally stated he didn’t wish to lose focus by responding to ‘numerous’ events.
The rhetoric quickly gained momentum when AIADMK normal secretary and former chief minister Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami got here down exhausting on the BJP, saying that the 5 MLAs the BJP now has are due to his social gathering.
Throughout an election marketing campaign in Chidambaram, Palaniswami stated nationwide events – Congress or BJP – solely wanted regional events in elections.
“That’s the reason we didn’t be a part of fingers with the nationwide social gathering (this election). We now have to operate independently to guard our state rights,” he stated, including that the true battle is between the AIADMK and the DMK.
Later, DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin thanked Palaniswami for lastly realizing that the true battle is between the 2 events.
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DMK vs AIADMK leaders
Political analyst A. Ramasamy, former head of the Tamil division of Manonmaniam Sundaranar College, stated the BJP’s actual intention is to not win the Lok Sabha elections however to return second to the ruling DMK after which itself to emerge as the primary opposition in 2026.
“The BJP can come second provided that it wins one or two seats in these elections or if it will get a bigger share of votes than the AIADMK. The social gathering is attempting to place itself on the middle of the political discourse. It desires everybody to answer what it presents as an election drawback,” Ramasamy stated.
Until final week, whereas Stalin and different senior DMK leaders focused the Prime Minister and the Union authorities over state rights, solely his son Udhayanidhi Stalin, who can also be the Sports activities Minister, focused AIADMK’s Palaniswami.
Nevertheless, in latest days, senior DMK leaders have shifted their focus to Palaniswami.
“Provided that Edappadi Palaniswami fights and responds to the DMK, the DMK leaders can reply to it and preserve the battle between them. That’s the reason MK Stalin thanked Palaniswami,” Ramasamy stated.
Ramasamy additionally stated that the Dravidian events had initially fallen into the BJP’s technique entice. “However they each appear to have realized it now and are taking motion to maintain the BJP at bay.”
When requested about it, AIADMK spokesperson RM Babu Murugavel stated the battle had all the time been between the Dravidian events. “Ever for the reason that Dravidian Occasion (DMK) grew to become the ruling social gathering in 1967, the battle was solely between the 2 main Dravidian events. The Congress and the BJP solely rode the again of the Dravidian events through the elections. They by no means had a robust base within the state after 1967.
Opposite to the bipolar battle narrative, former Union Minister and DMK Deputy Basic Secretary A. Raja stated it’s a battle between Dravid and communalism. He stated the state has all the time been for the Dravidian events and by no means for individuals who use faith as a weapon to win elections.
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BJP’s battle for vote share in TN
The AIADMK, which was a part of the BJP-led NDA, severed all ties with the social gathering in September 2023. When the alliance talks for the Lok Sabha polls started, the AIADMK might solely beat the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), shaped by actor He turned politician late Vijayakanth, the Social Democratic Occasion of India, the Puthiya Tamilagam led by Ok. Krishnasamy , and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi.
Alternatively, the BJP managed to rope within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and AIADMK rebels TTV Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam, other than actor-turned-politician R. Sarathkumar who merged his All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi with the social gathering .
Quickly after the alliance, Annamalai stated he was assured of securing 25 p.c votes within the Lok Sabha elections. Even earlier than the candidates have been introduced, Prime Minister Modi’s first-ever roadshow in Coimbatore, the place Annamalai is taking part, was seen as a lift for the BJP.
After the Dravidian events began ignoring the BJP, Annamalai stated the DMK and the AIADMK would know the fact on the day of the outcomes.
The BJP has a distinct story. “Each election has a sure agenda and plenty of conditions. Now the scenario is anti-DMK and never pro-DMK. Persons are on the lookout for change, and we’re the change. We’re very assured of an enormous victory they usually (Dravidian events) may even understand that on the election outcomes day,” stated Narayanan Thirupathy, vice-president of the Tamil Nadu BJP.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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