The grand culmination of Tamil Nadu BJP’s statewide “En Mann En Makkal” (My land, My Yatra) padayatra on 27 February gives confidence to state party chief K. Annamalai, 39, a former IPS officer, to claim that his team will be able to deliver good results to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on 39 seats of the state.
Excerpts of an interview:
Q: What are your expectations from the upcoming Lok Sabha elections?
A: The coming election will be historic as winds are blowing to take the BJP above the 370-seat mark and NDA above the 400- mark. This election is not going to be a vote for parties but a vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People of Tamil Nadu, irrespective of their political allegiance, are going to vote for growth. The 2024 mandate is going to be pro- Modi. The field is very clear and Modi is going to come to power again with a huge margin.
Q: How many seats do the BJP and its allies expect to win in Tamil Nadu?
A: We will deliver. We are not in the business of numbers but in the business of working hard. There is a very positive response to En Mann En Makkal padayatra, which ended in TN’s 234th constituency, Palladam, in Tirupur district on 27 February. It was a yatra to make Tamil Nadu free from family dynastic politics and corruption and to improve the law and order situation.
Q: Is the BJP in touch with other parties for alliance in Tamil Nadu?
A: Forming alliances is an organic process. You will get to see the shape and form of the NDA in the state soon. The way leaders of other parties have started joining the BJP, the message is clear about the growing popularity of PM Modi. Our Home Minister Amit Shah says any person who accepts Narendra Modi as PM is welcome to join the BJP.
Q: New parties like the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam launched by actor Vijay, are coming up in Tamil Nadu. How do you see the challenge from his outfit in next year’s Assembly elections?
A: In Tamil Nadu, we will continue to see new parties being formed. Actor Vijay’s entry into politics is not a surprise. No only him but more people will come into politics and I expect two more new parties to be formed in the state in the coming five years. It keeps happening and it is good as voters should have more options in terms of ideology and ideas.
Q: Will the Sanatan Dharam comment made by Udhayanidhi Stalin have any bearing on the outcome of Lok Sabha elections?
A: Hindus in Tamil Nadu and across the country will not tolerate insults to Hinduism. The controversy sparked by the Sanatan Dharam comments will work against the BJP’s rivals, and they are also aware of it after facing the recent backlash.
Q: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin says the BJP has no issue to raise before the people and the I.N.D.I bloc will win all 39 LS seats.
A: The Chief Minister holidays in Spain for 10 days in a month. He has no clue about the problems being faced by people as he is detached from state politics. If he travels across the state, he will find how frustrated the people are with family dynastic politics, corruption and law and order situation. We are working hard to perform well.