Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his eighth visit to Tamil Nadu. The journey which kickstarted amid a thunderous welcome from his supporters in Chennai on Tuesday saw a large gathering on Wednesday too. PM Modi addressed a public rally in Mettupalayam where he raised eyebrows by praising his old ally All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
He categorically invoked former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to target the Munnetra Kazhagam, which is part of the INDIA bloc.
PM Modi reminded one of the ‘Shakti’ jibe which he used to target the Congress. In Tamil Nadu, the same reference was used by him to project that DMK still supports ‘old thinking’.
“DMK intends to keep Tamil Nadu trapped in old thinking by holding on to old political norms. DMK is being run by a family,” he asserted.
Tamil Nadu has had the privilege of being ruled by a women chief minister and, thus, the people of the state know how to respect women. However, the ruling DMK does not know how to work for women’s cause— highlighted PM Modi.
“Tamil Nadu respects women... but DMK does not do so. It has become the party that treads the path of parivarwaad,” he said.
The jibe on parivarwaad is always seen as a move to target the Congress.
Targeting the DMK was expected from PM Modi during his visit to the state.
However, the reference of Jayalalithaa is being seen as a move to side with AIADMK.
In February, too, PM Modi hailed Jayalalithaa as a leader in ‘true sense’.
He also praised AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran’s commitment to put an end to “dynasty politics”.
The importance of Tamil Nadu has been underlined by Mr Modi’s multiple visits to the state and South India overall.
The BJP and the AIADMK were allies till October 2023. Till they parted ways. And the reason, reportedly, is BJP’s state chief, K Annamalai, targeting notable AIADMK leaders, including another ex-Chief Minister, CN Annadurai, who was MGR’s mentor.
The BJP is aware that it needs local support to win votes in the state. Hence, it has tied up with smaller parties, including S Ramadoss’ Pattali Makkal Katchi, but seems to have kept the door open for a renewal of ties with the AIADMK.
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