R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, NOV 28
Riding high on Tamil pride, culture created by month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam, power struggle in AIADMK between EPS and OPS factions, fissure in DMK cadres, led by a young and clean state head, Lotus is all set to bloom in Dravidian land in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and 2026 Assembly polls.
காசி தமிழ் சங்கமத்தில் உங்களுக்கு ஒரு மறக்க முடியாத அனுபவம் கிடைத்ததில் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறேன். https://t.co/H80Mp4x60f
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 28, 2022
With the free hand given by the 21st century Chanakyas – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP High Command, IPS officer-turned-politician K Annamalai has shown that Tamil Nadu is not an impregnable fort of Dravidian parties in the civic body polls by going solo.
- Performance high on BJP’s agenda in Tamil Nadu for 2024 Lok Sabha polls
- BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai hopes to cruise through political choppy waters to ensure the lotus blooms in the 2024 Lok Sabha election
By raising his voice against the imposition of ‘Hindi Rani’ over the world’s oldest language Tamil, the suave former IPS officer has proved his mettle as championing the cause of Tamils as his first and foremost priority. This has shaken the strong foundation of both the main Dravidian parties – ruling DMK and the Main Opposition AIADMK.
The BJP has called the month-long mega cultural event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the central government’s efforts to rediscover cultural linkages between north and south and remove linguistic differences and establish emotional bonding with the people of Tamil Nadu. However, its political agenda is clear — to slowly and steadily penetrate the Dravidian land and create a space for itself, say political observers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in the past, evoked the name of revolutionary Tamil poet Subramaniya Bharathiyar on various occasions, including the 2022 budget session and during his visits to Tamil Nadu. Apart from setting up a chair in the name of Bharathiyar at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the government had also declared that the great poet’s birth anniversary will be celebrated as ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Divas’ every year.
After inaugurating the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Modi again spoke of the time spent by Bharathiyar in Varanasi. He also took the names of great personalities from Tamil Nadu — such as former President of India S. Radhakrishnan, vedic scholar Rajeshwar Shastri and Pattabhiram Shastri to drive home his point.
The inaugural event also witnessed the release of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar’s classic Tamil text Thirukkural (couplets) translated into 13 languages.
Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP Women’s Wing National President and MLA from Coimbatore South, said, “DMK has used linguistic politics to prevent cultural exchanges between north and south. Dravidian politics was more rooted to create a distinct identity of Tamil culture, we want to end that barrier and give opportunity to people to mix up with their cultural roots which exist from ancient era.”
Another senior party leader said, “We are facing similar resistance in Tamil Nadu, so we have to make inroads into cultural space to diminish the DMK’s influence. Among the regional parties, the DMK is the only party giving oxygen to the Congress, it also needs to be looked into.”
Thus K Annamalai hopes to cruise through political choppy waters to ensure the lotus blooms in the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2026 Assembly elections.
He has set the goals high for the party members, mandating them to perform or give way to talented persons, who may be newcomers, a senior leader in the party said.
According to M Chakravarthy, state vice president ,”State party chief Annamalai’s recent analogy of accommodating new passengers if some passengers get off the bus, is seen as a warning to the party members to perform. Those working against the party’s interest or don’t show results may not have a place in the party.”
It is very crucial for the party cadres to sustain the momentum built by Annamalai who has made the BJP a strong force in the state, he said. “The Lok Sabha election and also the 2026 Assembly polls will turn out to be a straight contest between the BJP and the DMK,” claims Chakravarthy.
A group of 90 delegates commenced their journey for Kashi Tamil Sangamam aboard Ernakulam – Patna Weekly Express from Coimbatore, to be accompanied by 44 & 82 delegates from Salem & Perambur, respectively. pic.twitter.com/BZvsiRzuNH
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 27, 2022
Recently, while explaining about his stern action on a few wrongdoers, Annamalai remarked “only when few passengers alight from the bus, new passengers could be accommodated.”
Joyful Return!
A contingent of 216 delegates from Kashi Tamil Sangamam deboarded the Patliputra – Yesvantpur Express at Dr. MGR Chennai Central Railway Station today. pic.twitter.com/R5d7yZjzsG
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 27, 2022
“Can the fully occupied bus take in additional passengers? See, as I am talking to you, several passengers are boarding the bus over there,” Annamalai sarcastically remarked during an interaction with media persons here.
Asserting that the party has grown spectacularly to function as an effective opposition in Tamil Nadu, former Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan says the BJP has fair prospects at the hustings.
இந்தியாவின் நான்கு திசைகளில் உள்ள மக்களின் சங்கமத்திற்கான விழாவாக காசி தமிழ் சங்கமம் நடைபெறுவது வாழ்த்துக்குரியது, பாராட்டுக்குரியது,
இந்த விழாவிற்காக தமிழ் மக்கள் சார்பில் நன்றியை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.#Kashi_Tamil_Sangamam #NarendraModi #Kasi #gkvasan pic.twitter.com/ckDqelSm5v— G.K.Vasan (@GK__Vasan) November 28, 2022
“As of now, the AIADMK is still in the NDA. Though there’s still time for alliance, our central leadership will decide on it for the 2024 polls,” Radhakrishnan said when asked about the alliance.
Mesmerizing performance of Periyamelam, one of the ancient art form of Tamil Cultural history by Shri. Munusamy and his team from Tiruvannamalai.#KashiTamilSangamam#VanakkamKashi pic.twitter.com/gkdXYsX3Ag
— Kashi Tamil Sangamam (@KTSangamam) November 27, 2022
Apparently echoing the sentiments among the cadres, party president Annamalai had earlier remarked “I will convey to my leadership that my party has grown in Tamil Nadu and that it should contest alone.”
