New Delhi
The BJP in Tamil Nadu is stepping into the void created by the absence of former AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, who, according to BJP’s state chief K Annamalai, was a prominent Hindutva leader. Annamalai expressed confidence that the BJP will secure a double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha elections, positioning itself as a significant third party in the state.
Annamalai emphasized that the BJP would not play second fiddle to any other party in Tamil Nadu and highlighted the opportunity for his party to fill the gap left by the AIADMK’s departure from Hindutva principles after Jayalalithaa’s demise. He pointed out Jayalalithaa’s strong advocacy for Hindu causes, including support for a Ram temple in Ayodhya and the enactment of an anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu.
After Jayalalithaa’s passing, Annamalai noted that the AIADMK shifted away from Hindutva ideals, aligning with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), associated with the banned Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI). He believes that Hindus seeking protection for their temples would naturally turn to the BJP due to the AIADMK’s deviation from Jayalalithaa’s legacy.
Annamalai also highlighted the BJP’s support from non-Hindu religious groups and predicted that after the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP would emerge as the third major party in Tamil Nadu, challenging the dominance of regional players like the DMK and the AIADMK.
