BJP banks on Modi factor to win new allies in Tamil Nadu

The first public meeting to be attended by Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu since his elevation as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP comes at a crucial time for the party that is hoping to leverage his “charisma” to attract allies in the state. The entire state leadership has now descended in Tiruchy, the venue of the public meeting on September 26, to ensure arrangements for the event which they are hoping would attract at least two lakh people. (Tiruchy – Chief Minister’s Assembly Constituency comes in this district) The city was chosen for its geographical position at the centre of the state and also for the availability of large grounds that could accommodate huge turnouts.

Sources in the party told that the primary aim of the meeting would be to show the strength of the BJP in Tamil Nadu as well as the growing charisma of the Gujarat Chief Minister, who is now on a whirlwind tour across the country to complete 100 meetings before the end of 2013.

Party’s National Executive member H Raja said that, public meetings are generally to show party’s popularity. We also hope to show, through the turnout for the event, the people’s mood against the UPA government. However, a senior leader, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said an important purpose of the meeting was to attract allies for the party, which has been alienated from the political scene of the state for quite some time now.

Neither the DMK nor the AIADMK, both of which are now outside the Congress front, has shown any inclination to ally with the saffron party. This being the case, a functionary said the party has sent feelers to smaller outfits such as the MDMK and the PMK and is hoping that a good show by Modi will force the parties to think.

Though state leaders deny any such move, another reason doing rounds is that Modi was looking at Tiruchy or Madurai as a probable second constituency to contest from in the 2014 elections. The meeting could be testing of waters for party’s PM candidate.

“In recent meetings in other states, Modi has managed to draw huge crowds. If that happens here, it will give a huge fillip to our campaign,” said the senior leader and added that the party was particularly targeting the youth, who are “anxiously waiting” for a change in the government leadership.