Southern boost for BJP: Vasan's Tamil Maanila Congress finalises tie-up with NDA

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, February 26

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance received a shot in the arm in Tamil Nadu on Monday with GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress announcing a decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as part of the coalition.

This is the first formal BJP tie-up for the general election in the state, where it lost its erstwhile ally AIADMK in 2023.

Vasan, along with the BJP, was part of the AIADMK-led coalition that contested the 2021 state polls and his decision to back the BJP means he has snapped ties with the AIADMK.

The announcement by Vasan and the NDA pact came days after three-term Congress MLA from Viviancode in Kanyakumari joined the BJP in Delhi.

BJP general secretary organisation BL Santosh made the formal declaration about the development on Monday saying, "After Vijayadharini, Congress MLA from Viviancode AC in Kanyakumari joined the BJP, GK Vasan has extended his party’s (Tamil Maanila Congress) support to the NDA led by PM Sri @narendramodi. Interesting developments to follow."

Speaking about the tie-up, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said, "I thank Tamil Maanila Congress and GK Vasan for reinforcing his support to the NDA and PM Modi. Tamil Maanila Congress was always a different political party, a regional party with nationalism at its core. GK Vasan has given confidence to the people of Tamil Nadu today that he foresees a future where more MPs of Tamil Nadu will be part of the NDA."

Importantly, today's developments mark the emergence of the third front in Tamil Nadu which has historically vacillated between the DMK- and AIADMK-led coalitions choosing between the two Dravidian parties.

The BJP is emerging as a third force in a highly regional political landscape where national issues barely surface.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal outreach to the people of Tamil Nadu by way of celebrations of the Tamil new year, mention of Tamil legends at the UN, celebrations of Kashi Tamil Sangamam and recent glorious installation of the Sengol, a Chola dynasty symbol of power, in the new Lok Sabha chambers, may change that.

Vasan will join PM Modi's rally at Palladam in Tirupur on February 27.

Vasan said his party from the days of its founder GK Moopanar has had a national outlook.

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