'No Alliance is AIADMK's Loss': PM Modi on 'BJP-NDA Wave' in Tamil Nadu Before Lok Sabha Polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was the AIADMK’s loss, and not the BJP’s, that the party did not ally with the National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He said Tamil Nadu has decided to go with the BJP-NDA this time, while regional leaders like state BJP chief K Annamalai have chosen the saffron party for “national reasons”.

“The BJP has no reason to regret that the AIADMK is not a part of the NDA. They (AIADMK) should regret, not the BJP as they’ve betrayed (former CM) J Jayalalithaa’s dreams,” the prime minister said in an interview to Tamil news channel Thanthi TV.

Asked if the BJP has strengthened its cadre in the southern state under Annamalai, Prime Minister Modi said the generation of leaders like him want to see in their own state the development model followed in other states ruled by the BJP.

“Annamalai is attracting the youth. They see him and think that if money and corruption were the reasons behind his conduct, then he could have joined the DMK. Annamalai chose the BJP not for personal reasons, but for national reasons. He is working for the country and for Tamil Nadu,” he said.

On why Tamil Nadu should vote for the BJP-NDA, the PM said people of the state have witnessed the works the central government has done in the last 10 years — “be it for women, farmers or the upliftment of the poor through government schemes”, he added.

“Tamil Nadu has decided that this time it will be the BJP-NDA! We worked for Tamil Nadu even when we did not have a single municipal candidate,” PM Modi said, claiming that this is the reason why Tamil Nadu has “pro-BJP, pro-NDA wave” this time.

“The BJP-NDA is a robust alliance that connects different sections of society. It represents the aspirations of the people. The votes that the BJP-NDA receives aren’t ‘anti-DMK’ but ‘pro-BJP’,” he said.

The PM further said the alliance of the BJP and NDA is a strong alliance, as it is an organisation that connects the forces of different pockets of the society. “It is an organisation of parties representing different economic and social sections. That is, the NDA is such a kind of bouquet that every person of the society can see his own flower in it, this is our success,” he added.

‘Politicisation of Tamil language detrimental not only to Tamil Nadu but also to Bharat’

Expressing his anguish over the “politicisation of the Tamil language”, which is the world’s oldest, Modi said injustice has been done to the “great heritage” of Tamil Nadu. “Just as the cuisine of Tamil Nadu has globalised, we should also promote the use of the Tamil language. The politicisation of the Tamil language has been detrimental not only to Tamil Nadu but also to Bharat. I am angry because we have done injustice to the great heritage of Tamil Nadu. Bharat has the world’s oldest language, yet we don’t show any pride in it. The praise of this rich heritage should be sung about all over the world,” he said.

He also said Tamil Nadu is India’s strength and he has immense respect for the people, even though they have not historically voted for the BJP. “I have no grudges against the people of Tamil Nadu for not voting for the BJP. Mujhe pagalpan hai, iss state ke culture ke liye, logon ke liye (I have a passion for the culture and people of this state),” he said.

Tamil Nadu is one of India’s biggest strengths and, just because he is a politician, does not mean he works only to win elections, Modi said. “Tamil Nadu has huge potential that must not be wasted. If merely winning elections was my goal, I would not have worked for the development of the Northeast. I have visited northeastern states more than all of the former prime ministers combined,” he added.