An exclusive group of bureaucrats in New Delhi are working to improve the party's Tamil connect, say BJP sources.
On September 27, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commanded the attention of world leaders in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he sought collective efforts to address challenges faced by the world. But within his speech, an unexpected reference, hinted at a challenge he faced within his own nation.
Quoting famous Tamil philosopher Kaniyan Pungungranar from the Sangam era, the Prime Minister said, "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir" - which translates to 'We belong to all places, and to everyone'.
Ironically, this recognition for the Tamil language came at a global platform, merely two weeks after backlash from the state against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s pronouncement on Twitter that 'only Hindi can unite the country'. In its second term of power in the Centre, the BJP has been accused of attempting to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. The allegations, voiced loudest by the DMK, include various attempts to make Hindi compulsory in education, recruitment exams and official communication.
And therefore, when the Prime Minister began efforts to woo the people of Tamil Nadu during his trip to America, it did not go unnoticed.
It began with his declaration that Tamil is the oldest language in the world, while addressing the audience at the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston on September 23. He followed it up with the speech at the UNGA just days later. But the blitzkreig had just begun.
On September 30, his first trip outside New Delhi after his return from America was to attend the convocation ceremony in IIT Madras. Here too, he referred to his speech abroad and remarked, "Tamil language is echoing in America.
So, what has prompted the BJP's thrust towards Tamil Nadu?"Tamil Nadu has been the hardest state for the BJP to capture," admits a senior BJP leader, under the condition of anonymity. "The opposition has constantly accused us of being anti-Tamil. And the weapon that has been used against us, we plan to turn back on them. We are taking the language to international platforms to dispel the allegations. But at the same time, it is not just all talk, we are launching schemes and planning events in Tamil Nadu, that will establish our intentions. Our actions will talk," he adds.
And the 'action' was clearly visible in October when the Centre decided to hold what could possibly be the most crucial informal summit that India will host this year, in Mamallapuram. The temple town was spruced to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day meeting with the Prime Minister. And Modi himself, stood in a traditional veshti-thundu, (dhoti) his attire a statement by itself
As recent as October 20, the Prime Minister tweeted the Tamil translation of a poem he had written in Hindi during his stay at Mamallapuram. The translation appeared only in Tamil and no other regional language.
The senior leader says, "We are not expecting to defeat the DMK or AIADMK in the state. But definitely the party will grow in the state with the help of the Centre. This entire Tamil Nadu strategy is being controlled by Modi and Shah," he adds.
A BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, however, adds that the state unit has not been consulted in this ongoing strategy. The Tamil Nadu unit remains headless after former state President Tamilisai Soundararajan was appointed as Telangana Governor nearly two months ago."There is an exclusive group of select Tamil bureaucrats working with the Prime Minister over his Tamil connect. At the state level, we are not informed of any developments," says the BJP source. "This has been the practice from the 2016 Assembly Elections in Tamil Nadu. Even we are taken aback that after disinterest in the state before the Lok Sabha Elections, the Centre is working so aggressively," he adds.
Political experts, however, point out that the BJP is currently engaging in a long-term strategy."They have a base in Coimbatore today because of the polarisation they indulged in after the bomb blasts during the Advani era. Their efforts to polarise in Kanyakumari too eventually worked. It has been a 25-year project for them," says RK Radhakrishnan, Associate Editor of Frontline. "Since Narendra Modi came to power, they have tried various methods to gain support, from having a woman leader to wooing Rajinikanth. But nothing has worked. So it seems now that Modi himself has decided to enter the ring. The last few months, we have seen the Modi style of campaigning - from promoting Tamil to bringing a crucial summit here," he adds.
But will these efforts actually pay off? TN BJP leaders are sceptical."The problem is that this propaganda alone will not work. At the ground level the cadre are not enthused or given a strategy to work with," he explains.
However, Radhakrishnan points out that the ruling AIADMK currently lacks a strong leader and is already supportive of the BJP. The DMK, meanwhile, has just faced electoral defeats in bye-elections that are considered to be telling of the political mood in the state."If the BJP keeps at this and continues its propaganda, they are likely to gain ground fast," he says. "In 10 years, we will know the results of their actions and words."
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