Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) made a significant announcement on Monday. The party declared its decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. This move marks one of the first signs of a renewed alliance within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) parted ways with the BJP last September.
GK Vasan, former Union shipping minister and son of veteran Congress leader GK Moopanar, who leads the TMC, justified the decision as being in the interest of the nation. Vasan, who had a Rajya Sabha nomination in 2020 with the support of AIADMK legislators during their alliance with the BJP, emphasized that the alliance aims to ensure the welfare of both Tamil Nadu and Bharat. He highlighted the popular support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and expressed the desire for him to return for a third term.
Despite his father’s historical opposition to the BJP, Vasan stressed the TMC’s national outlook since its inception. The TMC, founded in 1996 after breaking away from the Congress, has not secured any electoral victories since 2016. However, Vasan remains optimistic about the party’s decision to align with the BJP.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai visited Vasan to extend congratulations for the TMC’s decision. Annamalai expressed confidence that Vasan’s inclusion would fortify the alliance and provide valuable guidance in the upcoming months. Notably, TMC had previously contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly polls as part of the AIADMK-BJP coalition.
While the TMC’s decision has been met with enthusiasm from the BJP camp, it has drawn criticism from within the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Chief K Selvaperunthagai condemned Vasan’s move, especially at a time when no other party in Tamil Nadu seems willing to align with the BJP. He invoked the legacy of GK Moopanar, suggesting that the decision might not be in alignment with his principles.
In addition to the TMC’s move, other leaders expelled from the AIADMK, such as O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran, have also shown inclinations towards the BJP. Recent developments include 18 leaders from various parties joining the BJP, including former MLAs and an MP from the AIADMK, former legislators from the DMDK, Congress, and DMK, indicating a shifting political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
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