BJP is targeting 50 seats from South Indian states
Chennai: The BJP is targeting 50 seats from South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with a particular focus on making strides in Tamil Nadu. In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance dominated, winning 38 out of 39 Lok Sabha seats, while the NDA, led by AIADMK, only secured the Theni seat. Despite a winless run in 2019, the BJP garnered 3.66% of the vote share, contrasting with AIADMK’s 19.39%, PMK’s 5.36%, and DMDK’s 2.16%. This highlighted the BJP’s lesser influence within the NDA coalition in Tamil Nadu compared to the AIADMK.
BJP’s strategy for the 2024 elections
In Tamil Nadu, the BJP has secured seats, notably with figures like Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan and former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who are esteemed grassroots leaders in their areas. Radhakrishnan holds influence in the Goundar community, while Radhakrishnan has a substantial following in the Nadar community. While the BJP embraces its Hindutva ideology, in a state like Tamil Nadu, where caste holds significant sway in politics, the party must factor in caste dynamics at a micro level for electoral success. The victories of Radhakrishnan and Radhakrishnan in past elections have been linked to their respective castes, alongside BJP’s political backing. These considerations are shaping the BJP’s strategy for the 2024 elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits
The BJP boasts a strong asset in its state President, K Annamalai, known for his anti-corruption stance and bold opposition to both the ruling DMK and Opposition AIADMK, garnering significant support within the BJP’s Hindu voter base in the state. The party’s stance against Islamic extremism, exemplified by the ban on the Popular Front of India and the arrest of its senior members in September 2021, adds to its political narrative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits and the Centre’s backing of Tamil Nadu projects strategically position the BJP in the Dravidian heartland, challenging the dominance of national parties like the BJP and Congress. Furthermore, Annamalai, an IPS officer turned politician, has fearlessly criticized actions of revered Dravidian leader CN Annadurai, a pivotal figure who reshaped Tamil politics by diminishing Congress’s influence.
Annalamai also vocally criticized the late former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa, despite the BJP being in a coalition with the AIADMK, leading to the AIADMK’s eventual exit from the NDA alliance.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP secured four seats in alliance with the AIADMK. However, the absence of AIADMK from the NDA in the upcoming 2024 elections poses a significant challenge for the BJP. Analysts suggest a high likelihood of senior BJP figures, possibly including the Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for an alliance with the AIADMK.
To bolster its South Indian representation, the BJP must secure seats in Tamil Nadu, making a revived alliance with the AIADMK crucial for even a single seat in the state.
