Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Forced onto the back foot, the state BJP has put to rest the speculation that the Narendra Modi government was contemplating carving out a Union Territory out of the western region of Tamil Nadu. In this regard, the saffron party on Monday had also disowned state BJP General Secretary Karu Nagarajan, who had made the demand claiming that it had the Centre's blessings. Following criticism across the political spectrum, including its ally, the AIADMK, the BJP turned into damage control mode and the denial was swift.
"The demand for Kongu Nadu nor the bifurcation of Tamil Nadu does not reflect the official position of the BJP. It is not the party's stand that it is under consideration. Neither BJP state president nor the general secretary (Organisation) has not stated this officially anywhere," a media statement from the saffron party made it clear, asking BJP functionaries to exercise caution in airing their personal views as that of the party's stand, in a bid to curb providing room for anti-Tamil forces.
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"The party stands for a prosperous Tamil Nadu and a Strong Bharat,” the statement further maintained, stopping short of censuring those who had gone to the town with the Kongu Nadu slogan. However, the damage has been done and the BJP stands politically isolated with every party from the ruling and opposition camp decrying the move.
Adding to the party's woes, all hell broke loose when Nagarajan told the media a couple of days back that the Centre was considering the creation of 'Kongu Nadu'. "It is in the initial stages. Fulfilling the desire of the people is the duty of the government. When there are parties with the prefix 'Kongu Nadu', the demand for the same cannot be dismissed," he had said. But, even prior to that, what added fuel to this was the bio-data of L Murugan, the newly inducted Union Minister of State, who had mentioned his native as that of 'Kongu Nadu' and hyphenating it with Tamil Nadu.
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Subsequently, a prominent pro-saffron daily came out with a write-up suggesting that the Modi government was planning bifurcation of the state as a counter to the DMK's new rhetoric of 'Ondriya Arasu' which added fuel to the fire. Not only the DMK, Congress, Left Parties, VCK of Thirumavalavan, and Muslim parties in the secular combine, but, even the BJP's ally, AIADMK has termed it as mischievous and unacceptable.
"People from Kanyakumari to Chennai all think of themselves as Tamils and identify with Tamil Nadu. Don't sow the seeds of separatism. This will prove detrimental to the people. Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai had championed the cause of Tamil and christened the state from Madras to Tamil Nadu," said KP Munusamy, AIADMK Deputy Coordinator.
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Why then has the BJP ventured into this slippery terrain? "It's BJP's good old tactics of diversion," opines Prof. Thirunavukarasu of University of Hyderabad. In his view, the Kongu Nadu issue is the saffron brigade's counter to the DMK. "There is no such demand from people, nor was there any economic disparity in growth. Simply there is no prima facie reason. What is the need to split people speaking the same language? All bifurcation is demanded by the people and in fact many are the result of years of protest, but we don't have such a thing here," he explains, adding that the Kongu Nadu demand will be counter-productive for the BJP and an unintended gain for the DMK.
Kongu region is located in the western part of Tamil Nadu, comprising Coimbatore, the Manchester of South India, and Tiruppur, the hosiery capital of the country. With a rare co-existence of Agriculture and industry, it is the wealthiest region in the state. After the decimation of the Congress, it turned out to be an AIADMK stronghold with both OBC Gounders and Naidus as well as dalit Arundhadhiyars being a captive vote bank. Political observers point out that this is a rare phenomenon in Tamil Nadu.
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It may be noted that the BJP had won two of its four seats from this region, in the company of the AIADMK. To expand its sphere of influence, the BJP had inducted 'Kongu leaders' as the party's face in the state. While Murugan is a Union Minister, a former IPS officer, K Annamalai is the new state president and legislator Vanathi Srinivasan is the All India Mahila Morcha president. Will the gamble work in its favour? Identity politics has its limitations and remains only as cosmetic gimmicks in the face of entrenched Dravidian politics.
