Chennai: Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Chennai, the BJP’s ally in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK has criticised the BJP saying that it will not allow the latter to indulge in divisive politics in Tamil Nadu.
Hitting out at its ally, the AIADMK in a recent column in its mouthpiece, Namathu Amma, said it will not let politics stemming out of religious hatred to take root in Tamil Nadu.
"People of Tamil Nadu will dismiss rallies that divide them on the basis of religion and caste... the secular AIADMK won't accept politics of polarisation that tries to build a vote-bank in the name of religion,” read the article.
The write up comes in the context of the State BJP persisting with the yatra despite the government declining permission and arresting party state president L Murugan and others for defying the ban.
The month-long yatra is scheduled to conclude at the coastal Tiruchendur in southern Tamil Nadu on December 6. But, the government thwarted it at the launch itself at Tiruttani, 50 km north of Chennai last fortnight. However, the BJP has maintained that two Union Ministers would participate in Tiruchendur.
Now, Amit Shah's visit is scheduled for November 21 amidst the continuing war of words and increasing irritants between the BJP and the AIADMK.
The AIADMK, which had maintained that permission was refused for the yatra due to the Corona pandemic and law and order, has now opposed it as a communally polarising political programme. This is the first time that the AIADMK has used the secular shield to criticize the BJP.
"The AIADMK Government is concerned about maintaining law and order in the state and will not spare anyone even if they are our ally. People are very clear about political parties nowadays and you can't brainwash them or manipulate them. BJP's Vel Yatra will not increase the party's vote bank," said party spokesperson Babu Murugavel.
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With state assembly elections expected early next year, the AIADMK is warry of allowing the BJP having its way. Further, the opposition led by the DMK, Congress and Left as well as the VCK and others, have criticized the AIADMK of playing hide and seek. Further, the AIADMk is apprehensive of losing its support among the minorities.
“It may be AIADMK's friendly warning,” explains R Thirunavukarasu, Professor, Hyderabad Central University. "AIADMK fears that BJP's divisive campaign will be counter-productive and may turn into an advantage for the DMK, which is determined to stage a comeback. Moreover, the AIADMK might be playing a hard game as the BJP could be bargaining for more seats in the polls. They (AIADMK) think the BJP as a liability and are preparing the ground to face polls alone," he added.
Though the BJP has been successful in other states, the saffron party is still a marginal player in Tamil Nadu. It has been trying social engineering in the Dravidian heartland to expand its social base and occupy more political space in the absence of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi.
But critics are sceptical of the party's victory in the state using the same strategy employed in the Hindi heartland.
"BJP is trying to become a dominant player by sewing up a social coalition and to some extent, they have succeeded. In the Kongu region (Western region of the state that includes Coimbatore and Tirupur), the AIADMK always wins most of the seats due to a surprising combination of the dominant community - Gounders and Dalits - Arunthathiyars voting for the party. It was because of MG Ramachandran's popularity and his careful balance of caste relations. Now, BJP is making inroads in this region of late by giving prominence to Arunthathiyars. It is eating into AIADMK's loyal vote bank. Also, they try to woo another Dalit community Pallars in southern Tamil Nadu with help of Krishnasamy of the Puthiya Thamizagam party. Continuing that strategy, Amit Shah is expected to meet actor Rajinikanth. It might be to persuade him either to launch his political party or lend support to the saffron party," he reasoned.
The election will be a litmus test for both Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami and DMK president MK Stalin and to prove their mettle. Will Amit Shah's Midas touch work in the crucial southern state remains to be seen once again.
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