Exclusive | BJP Comes Up With ‘Tamil Model Dravidian Plus’ To Counter Dravidian Parties in TN

With DMK govt facing different challenges and AIADMK busy setting own house in order, BJP has decided to use the vacuum and come up with a plan to independently strengthen its presence in Tamil Nadu.

K Annamalai ( Image Source :Facebook/KAnnamalai )

Chennai: Amid DMK’s dynasty politics and power struggle in AIADMK, the Tamil Nadu BJP is making big plans to wisely use the vacuum so the lotus blooms in the state. As a first step towards the big dream, the BJP has decided to spearhead the ‘Tamil Model’ movement as a counter to the ‘Dravidian model’ proposed by the ruling DMK.

In Tamil Nadu, two major Dravidian parties — DMK and AIADMK — have alternatively ruled the state for 55 years. The ruling DMK is currently facing several issues and has been busy tackling the mounting debts of the government, anti-incumbency and the attacks over dynasty politics.

The AIADMK, meanwhile, is facing a power struggle between the camps led by party leaders Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam. On Monday, the tussle between the two camps intensified to the extent that police sealed the party headquarters in Chennai, even as Palaniswami was appointed the interim general secretary of AIADMK with a majority of the cadre supporting him. 

Out of the eight general secretaries the AIADMK has seen so far, he is the fourth most powerful after MGR, Jayalalithaa and Sasikala. The EPS camp also removed Panneerselvam as the AIADMK treasurer.

However, the supporters of OPS claimed that the announcement of EPS as interim general secretary of the party is not legally valid, and that they are going to court for justice. Talking to reporters, OPS even said he now enjoys the support of the majority of party members and has removed EPS from the party.

Amid confusion prevailing in both parties, the BJP, which earlier announced its alliance with the AIADMK, has decided to use the vacuum and come up with a plan to independently strengthen its presence in the state.

What is BJP’s Tamil Model? 

The BJP has decided to bring in the “Tamil Model Dravidian plus” as a counter to the ‘Dravidian model’ proposed by DMK.  

“Tamil model Dravidian plus” is a strategy proposed by the BJP promising inclusive growth of all Indians, including Tamils. The party has said this model will advocate anti-corruption, “Tamil pride” and inclusive development of the nation, governing the state without debt, among other issues.

The BJP is expected to make an official announcement soon regarding the model.

Objective Of BJP’s Tamil Model Strategy

With the implementation of the model, the main aim of the party is to emerge as an alternative to Dravidian parties in the state while adhering to Dravidian politics. The party also believes that the new model will help it come out of the ‘North Indian party’ image and shed its ‘Brahmin party’ tag. The alternative approach also comes after the BJP’s anti-Dravidian theory and opposition to anti-Brahmin politics met with criticism.

In an exclusive interview to ABP Nadu, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai spoke about the Tamil model. ”This will be an important move of the BJP. The party has decided to move towards the villages in order to tackle the illusion among the public that BJP is a party only for the urban population,” he said.

Secondly, he said, the model will work towards changing the Dravidian model of getting into debt for development. “The BJP will bring development for Tamils without any debt. A detailed plan on the execution of the debt-free governance will also be released soon.” 

Annamalai added: “Thirdly, BJP will also work towards developing Tamil and Tamil culture. BJP will include oppressed nationalists in the plan and make Tamil Nadu a developed land by including spirituality, Tamil and Tamil culture.” 

Yet another strategy of the BJP is to provide important roles for the leaders who shifted their support to the BJP from Dravidian parties.

The BJP state chief also said the BJP cadre in the state will work towards ensuring the implementation of central government schemes, especially in rural areas. He said the growth of the party will reflect in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

The implementation of new strategies in Tamil Nadu and the efforts of the state BJP to make a dent in the Dravidian vote bank has received the attention of the BJP high command in New Delhi. The high command has also reportedly expressed contentment over the works of Annamalai.

Meanwhile, the BJP claims to be growing in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and also Puducherry in South India. In Tamil Nadu, with the implementation of the 'Tamil Model', the BJP hopes to emerge successful in the fierce electoral race controlled by Dravidian parties. All eyes are now on the next political moves of DMK and AIADMK.

(Translated by Bharathi SP)