Invoking the memory of the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday, saying the ruling party disrespects women and keeps the state “trapped in old thinking.” While making his eighth trip to the state this year, Mr. Modi also took aim at the DMK-led INDIA bloc, which is led by the Congress, by saying, “We know how they treated her… passed vulgar comments about her.”
Tamil Nadu honors women, but the DMK and INDI Alliance do not. The Prime Minister stated that while Rahul Gandhi claimed to “destroy Shakti,” another (referring to Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin) claimed he would “eradicate Sanatana Dharma.”
“DMK seeks to maintain Tamil Nadu’s shackled to antiquated political ideas. He said, “DMK has turned into the ‘company’ of a family, a jab at the Gandhi family.”
Although the criticism of Mr. Gandhi and Udhayanidhi Stalin has been viewed as standard fare against opposition figures, the mention of Jayalalithaa has drawn criticism.
The incident in 1989 in the Assembly, where the late Chief Minister was heckled and her saree pulled off, was the subject of the (unspoken) reference. The BJP has brought up this incident frequently in an attempt to gain support in a state that has historically rejected its political philosophy.
In August, Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman used the 1989 event as a rebuttal to DMK MP Kanimozhi’s criticism of the center regarding crimes against women.
The Prime Minister praised Jayalalithaa profusely in February, referring to her as a “true leader.”
In addition, he commended MG Ramachandran, the founder of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, for his dedication to governance free from “dynasty politics,” a common criticism directed at the Congress.
Mr. Modi’s repeated trips to Tamil Nadu and South India as a whole have highlighted the state’s—and its 39 Lok Sabha seats—importance to the BJP in this election.
The BJP and the AIADMK were allies until October of last year, when they split due to snide remarks made by K Annamalai, the head of the BJP’s state unit, about well-known AIADMK leaders, including CN Annadurai, another former chief minister and MGR’s mentor.
The BJP, which was crushed in the 2019 election and only managed one Lok Sabha seat five years prior, now finds itself fighting on its own in a state that has never truly warmed up to the saffron party. The resounding losses in the Assembly elections of 2016 and 2021 highlighted the lack of support.
Understanding that it needs support from the local community to win votes in the state, the BJP partnered with smaller parties, such as Pattali Makkal Katchi, led by S Ramadoss, but they left the door open for a reunion with the AIADMK.
Even the BJP’s campaign posters from last month included Jayalalithaa and MGR.
But the calls have been met with cold shoulder by the AIADMK. The party referred to the poster move as “low-cost politics.” We are clear—there will be no NDA return. “They are disseminating false information,” stated senior leader D Jayakumar.
It is significant that the Prime Minister and other top BJP officials have not yet publicly criticised the AIADMK. Although the parties are not allies, many believe that the BJP is attempting to maintain objectivity toward the AIADMK in the hopes of winning over some party members.
Perhaps in response, the PM conducted his campaign in Salem, the home district of party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and a known AIADMK stronghold in western Tamil Nadu.
