Amid chants of ‘veendum meendum Modi ( We wish Modi once more),’ Prime Minister held an enormous roadshow together with BJP state president Okay Annamalai and three BJP candidates contesting in Chennai akin to Tamizhisai Soundararajan, Vinoj P Selvam and Paul Kanagaraj.The PM throughout his four day tour is anticipated to carry public rallies and roadshows in Vellore, Perambalur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Virudhunagar in assist of the BJP and NDA candidates contesting below the alliance.
The state, which can see all its 39 seats go to polls in a single part on April 19, has witnessed high-profile visits from senior leaders of the BJP. Over the weekend, social gathering nationwide president JP Nadda was on a whirlwind tour of the state campaigning and held roadshows after the Madras HC overruled police objections. Different leaders of the excessive command, who visited the state and held roadshows embody the likes of union ministers Rajnath Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Anurag Singh Thakur.
The Prime Minister’s go to additionally comes amid claims by the ruling DMK that the visits ,if something ,‘would profit the DMK.’ Nonetheless, a better take a look at the Prime Minister’s itinerary within the coming days within the state makes it evident that the BJP is focusing on constituencies the place they see a chance to make inroads or, on the very least, slot in because the second-largest social gathering in seats historically dominated by both of the Dravidian events.
The massive three seats
In South Chennai, the BJP, the social gathering has a historical past of fielding candidates for the reason that 1991 Lok Sabha elections. BJP’s Tamil Isai Soundarajan, who resigned from her constitutional put up as governor of Telangana to contest electoral politics is pitted towards Tamizhachi Thangapandian of the DMK and AIADMK’s J Jayavardhan, son of former minister D Jayakumar.
In Coimbatore, the Prime Minister is scheduled to marketing campaign for Tamil Nadu BJP president Okay. Annamalai and L Murugan within the Nilgiri constituency on April 10. Coimbatore holds a big place for the BJP, having fielded candidates there since 1989. Regardless of dealing with preliminary challenges with a low vote share in 1989, the social gathering managed to safe victories in 1998 and 1999 with substantial vote percentages. This time, the DMK has fielded former mayor Ganapathi Rajkumar whereas the AIADMK has nominated Singai G. Ramachandran towards BJP’s Annamalai.
Nilgiris, as soon as a stronghold for the BJP within the late Nineteen Nineties, noticed the social gathering win seats within the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections. Nonetheless, its vote share dwindled in subsequent years, and the social gathering didn’t discipline candidates within the following elections. This time, A. Raja is contesting for the DMK and Lokesh Tamizh Selvan for the AIADMK in Nilgiris.
The three seats contested by NDA allies on the lotus image
Virudhunagar and Perambalur are set to be within the highlight as Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to go to these constituencies. Radhika Sarathkumar, spouse of actor-turned-politician Sarathkumar, is contesting from Virudhunagar, whereas Paarivendhar, who beforehand received on a DMK ticket and is now operating on a BJP ticket, is contesting from Perambalur.
Perambalur has traditionally not favored the BJP, with the social gathering solely fielding a candidate in 2014, when Paarivendhar secured 23.2 p.c of votes. This time, Arun Nehru from the DMK and N.D. Chandramohan from the AIADMK are contesting towards Paarivendhar. Equally, the BJP lacks a powerful foothold within the Vellore constituency, the place they garnered 33.26 p.c of votes in 2014 due to candidate Shanmugam, who was beforehand related to the Puthiya Needhi Katchi.
In Vellore, Kathir Anand from the DMK and S. Pasupathi from the AIADMK are competing, whereas in Virudhunagar, the BJP has fielded a candidate for the second time since its institution in 2009. B. Manickam Tagore from Congress and Vijaya Prabhakaran, son of DMDK chief Vijayakanth, are the primary contenders in Virudhunagar.
Tamil Nadu stands out as a key state in sending a big variety of MPs to the Lok Sabha. With Uttar Pradesh reaching its peak in BJP illustration and Maharashtra present process notable political shifts, Tamil Nadu stays a stronghold for regional events since 1967, with no nationwide social gathering in a position to set up a powerful presence.
