COVID-19 outbreak propels BJP towards its Tamil Nadu allies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called-up Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to laud the efforts of the state government in containing coronavirus spread, whereas Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outreached PMK founder S Ramadoss to discuss on the same matter.

New Delhi: Even as people are trying to follow social distancing across the globe to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Center finds it as a way to move close to its Tamil Nadu allies including the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK - a crucial partner of NDA in TN).

While the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to laud the efforts of Tamil Nadu government in containing coronavirus spread, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outreached PMK founder S Ramadoss to discuss on the same matter.

Ramadoss said that the Finance Minister had a conversation with him over the steps being taken by the Center to wipe out coronavirus.

"Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called me up and she explained Center's efforts to curtail COVID-19 spread. As I am a doctor, the FM urged me to motivate people to take preventive measures to fight this pandemic," Ramadoss tweeted.

Though the interaction between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister is said to be a government-to-government exercise for fighting the COVID-19 spread, Sitharaman's call to Ramadoss created a buzz in the political circle according to observers.

The back-to-back calls from the PM and FM to the Tamil Nadu NDA leaders have raised the speculations that the saffron party wants to keep its allies - AIADMK and PMK in good humour ahead of 2021 state legislative assembly polls.

"The newly appointed BJP state unit president L Murugan has been reiterating that the saffron party will send its legislators to St.George's Fort in 2021. It is not only his voice but also his high-command's wish. Therefore, the BJP is activating its poll machine by appeasing its allies," said a Delhi based RSS worker on the condition of anonymity.

It is noted the AIADMK and NDA came onboard during April 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While AIADMK managed to win only Theni seat, others drew a blank in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

It is to be noted that BJP has been keen on the Tamil Nadu's affairs after the demise of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in 2016 and trying to make inroads into the Dravidian land.