BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

TALKING TO TOI ELECTIONS 2021

BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

05.03.2021 

The BJP and the Centre want a government in Tamil Nadu that would push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. Hence, the BJP’s sole objective in the assembly polls is to prevent the DMK from coming to power, said BJP vice president K Annamalai in an interview with Shanmughasundaram J

What are the prospects of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the assembly polls?

The AIADMK-led NDA will definitely come back to power as I don’t see any kind of anti-incumbency against the government and the CM; nor is there any strong pro-DMK wave. When it comes to leadership, people prefer EPS to DMK leader M K Stalin. Of course, there is anti-incumbency against some sitting MLAs and it is up to the ruling party to sort it out.

What are the prospects of the BJP in the polls?

The BJP’s objective this time is to prevent the DMK from coming to power and ensuring the victory of our combination (AIADMK-BJP front). We want EPS to come back to power as part of a larger scheme of things. At the same time, we believe that our time has come in TN. After a gap of 15 years, we will see some of our leaders sitting in the TN assembly.

How do you view V K Sasikala’s decision to quit politics? Did the BJP play a role in it?

I think it’s her personal decision. Our state president L Muruganhas welcomed it. The BJP has no role in what happens in the AIADMK.

Except for one seat, the AIADMKBJP alliance lost all others in the 2019 LS polls? Do you think the trend would have changed within two years?

The outcome of the 2019 LS polls in Tamil Nadu wasabnormal. Anti-Modi sentiment was whipped up by a combination of social media campaigns and careful news narratives. At that time, the AIADMK-BJP alliance was just formed. Things have completely changed now and Stalin is forced to change his narrative every month. The opposition’s anti-BJP and anti-Modi narratives do not have any impact on people.

What is BJP’s narrative for the polls?

We believe the popularity of Narendra Modi is very high in TN because two in every three people in the state have benefited from the Centre’s schemes. He is going to be the party’s biggest ambassador. The PM and the Centre want a government in TN that would push Modi’s development agenda. The EPS-Modi combination and Jayalalithaa factor would work in our favour.

Stalin accused the BJP of admitting several notorious criminals in the party. What is your take?

It is like the pot calling the kettle black. Several leaders of his party face serious criminal charges. We cannot check the background of every person joining our party.

The opposition accuses the BJP of making a mockery of elections bydislodging state governments through unfair means. Puducherry is the latest instance. What have you got to say?

The Narayanasamy-led government has done nothing for Puducherry. (Congress) MLAs, including A Namassivayam, who built the party in Puducherry, came to the BJP on their own. Like G23, (Congress dissidents at the national level) it’s G7 in Puducherry. Knowing that the kitchen cabinet of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Narayanasamy will not allow new leaders to emerge, they came out. It is not fair to say the BJP is killing democracy.

Why are your supporters saying that many TN BJP leaders are against your growth in the party?

I don’t see anybody opposing me, we’re like a family. The party’ssystem is built against it (factionalism). If anybody has an ego issue, itis temporary. I enjoy the role given to me and remain loyal to the party.

BJP says it works for all sections of society. If so, why doesn’t it get support from minorities?

This (BJP) government has done far more than others for minorities. Muslim students get the highest scholarships. It is the DMK that wants to keep them as a vote bank. We see them as part of the country. The triple talaq Act helped us get more votes, particularly from Muslim women. We proved it in Bihar polls and will do it in Tamil Nadu too. It’s only a matter of time.