NEW DELHI: With the BJP preparing its southward journey, the party is busy finalising its fellow travellers. The saffron party, which is keen to increase its foothold in Tamil Nadu, were in touch with the DMDK and PMK for firming alliance for the state’s upcoming assembly elections. Despite being a tightrope walk, BJP is positive given the state’s religious inclination which is in line with the party’s core ideology.
The party which is yet to open its account in the state assembly has its eyes firmly set on the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls, where it hopes to pick up “a few seats”. BJP is treating the current elections as preparations for the bigger electoral battle when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would seek a second term.
For now, BJP sources said it may take a week to get clarity on alliance with Captain Vijaykanth-led DMDK and S Ramadoss-led PMK. “We have to see how to balance the DMDK and PMK given the various issues involved,” said a senior BJP leader. For BJP, the biggest issue lies with both DMDK and PMK seeking a larger share by projecting its own CM candidates.
When asked if AIADMK was one of the options, the leader replied in negative, adding BJP chief Amit Shah, during his Coimbatore rally, said corruption was the main issue in the state.
“We have already drawn our macro level plans for the state on what all messaging to send through social media, issues to flag, and programmes to launch. The micro-level like seats to contest, and projection of leader would be done after the alliance talks,” said the senior BJP leader.
According to BJP, the party would have a chance as the charisma of two major Dravidian parties AIADMK and DMK- would begin to wane in the next few years, as these were personality dominated parties. To align itself with the state’s population, BJP is also opening its channels with religious sects which have a significant following. To buttress his point, the BJP leader pointed at Assam where AGP was once a dominant force and the saffron party begged for alliance. But today BJP is the dominant force there.
Sources pointed out the recent visits of BJP general secretary and state incharge Muralidhar Rao to Arulmigu Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam at Melmaruvathur, and Golden Temple of Sripuram, Vellore. Both sects have considerable following in the state.