The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cannot enter Tamil Nadu however hard Prime Minister Narendra Modi may try.
"Whatever somersaults Modi does, his dream will not come true in Tamil Nadu," Vaiko claimed.
"The BJP cannot enter the state either through the front door or the back door. All the doors are closed for them in Tamil Nadu," Vaiko told this website at the party headquarters Thayagam in Egmore, Chennai.
His comments gain relevance particularly when Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin has framed the upcoming Assembly elections as a contest between Tamil Nadu and Delhi, targeting the frequent trips made by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and other opposition leaders to Delhi. Stalin alleged that the key political decisions are being dictated from Delhi.
Vaiko chose not to comment on actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay and his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
"I don't want to make a comment on the new entrants to politics," he quipped.
When asked about MDMK candidates being forced to contest under the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol, Vaiko replied that his party is doing so with "pleasure".
"I've analysed the pros and cons of contesting under the DMK symbol before announcing the party's willingness to contest under the 'Rising Sun' symbol in all the four constituencies the party has been allocated," he said.
It may be recalled that the Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) decided to stay away from contesting the polls after being forced to contest under the 'Rising Sun' symbol. The party, however, announced that it will extend support to the DMK alliance and campaign for its candidates.
The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) constituents, led by the DMK include the Indian National Congress (INC), CPI (M), CPI, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Indian Union Muslim League, among others.
The MDMK has been allocated Modakkurichi, Sirkazhi, Madurai South and Kadayanallur. The party has fielded Senthil Nathan, Senthil Selvan, Boominathan and Rajendran respectively.
Sounding confident about the SPA's prospects, Vaiko said that the upcoming elections are not a litmus test for the DMK-led SPA. It will sweep the polls. The reason is simple. The Dravida-model rule, led by MK Stalin, has provided all that is necessary for the people of Tamil Nadu.
"The welfare schemes implemented by the government have come as an unexpected blessing for all sections of people," he claimed. "The students, young children, women, mothers, fishermen, farmers, the sick and the disabled have benefited from the schemes implemented by the Tamil Nadu government," he added.
Vaiko would launch his election campaign at Kadayanallur on April 6 and conclude the campaign at Madurai South on April 21.
Tamil Nadu goes to the polls on April 23. The votes will be counted on May 4.