New Delhi: The battle in Tamil Nadu is between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA)—opposite to what actor Vijay says—in line with Kushboo Sundar, vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Celebration’s Tamil Nadu unit.

Her feedback got here days after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor Vijay, addressing a gathering in Vellore on 23 February, mentioned, “The competitors is between Vijay and Stalin sir. Tamil Nadu is Vijay, Vijay is Tamil Nadu. The conflict is between TVK and DMK.”

Explaining the impression that the TVK may have on the upcoming Tamil Nadu meeting elections, the BJP chief admitted that the “youthful era is happy as a result of Vijay is the preferred actor we now have in Tamil Nadu right now,” but in addition identified that “politics is a unique ball recreation altogether”.

“So sure, persons are excited that he has entered politics,” Sundar mentioned.

The AIADMK and the BJP are contesting the upcoming state elections collectively. Their alliance was revived final 12 months at a press convention in Chennai, within the presence of Union House Minister Amit Shah and AIADMK common secretary Edappadi Okay. Palaniswami (EPS).

Hoping to make inroads within the southern state, the BJP additionally appointed Union Minister Piyush Goyal as its election in-charge.

Sundar, commenting on the TVK, mentioned Vijay’s fame received’t assure the chief minister’s chair. “If Vijay thinks that on this very election he’s going to turn into the chief minister, and if somebody is guiding him in that path, I’d say that’s completely unsuitable. I’d say, ‘brother, you’re being very naïve and new to politics’,” she mentioned.

“Gone are the times when Puratchi Thalaivar MGR could possibly be in a hospital within the US, unable to talk, having misplaced his voice, simply (gesturing) from his hospital mattress, and there could be a sweeping victory for the AIADMK. These days are gone. You possibly can’t do this anymore,” she added.

“Instances have modified. The individuals who come to see you aren’t essentially the individuals who will vote for you. Sure, you’ll garner a good quantity of public assist, and I agree with that. However how lengthy that assist will maintain is a giant query mark.”

The BJP chief additional mentioned that how lengthy Vijay will have the ability to maintain the momentum may even be a deciding issue within the 2026 state elections.

On Vijay’s remark that the actual battle is between the DMK and his just lately launched social gathering, Sundar mentioned, “His sturdy opposition to the DMK may be very clear, so that could be why he feels that approach. However relating to the actual political battlefield, everybody is aware of that the competition is primarily between the DMK and the NDA. Vijay is someplace in between.”

Referring to former chief minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, Sundar mentioned that there was a time when folks had been saying that she would by no means return to energy as a result of, in Tamil Nadu’s historical past, no ruling authorities had come again to energy consecutively.

“However she modified that narrative—she received and returned to energy back-to-back. Individuals additionally mentioned the BJP would by no means discover a foothold within the South. But in Kerala, we now have received seats and have the primary mayor in Thiruvananthapuram. Individuals mentioned the lotus would by no means bloom in Tamil Nadu, however right now there are 4 sitting MLAs within the state. So instances are altering,” Sundar additional mentioned.

“We’re very hopeful and really constructive that on this election, India will witness a really huge victory,” she added.

Within the 2021 Tamil Nadu meeting election, the BJP contested 20 seats and received 4, securing a statewide vote share of two.62 %. The AIADMK contested 179 seats and, with a 33.29 % vote share, received 66.

Commenting on the prospects of the BJP within the state, Sundar mentioned the BJP stood at a “very vivid spot”.

“The type of religion folks have proven in the direction of the BJP, in the direction of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, trying on the good work that the BJP authorities has executed within the final 12 years, we’re at a really vivid spot,” Sundar burdened.

“The instances have modified when folks mentioned that the BJP may by no means discover a place within the hearts of the folks of Tamil Nadu. Now we have 4 sitting MLAs… I’m very positive that the numbers are going to develop.”

Addressing the language concern and the DMK’s allegations in opposition to the BJP of imposing Hindi, Sundar claimed, “Each college, each instructional establishment—which is run by the DMK—teaches Hindi as a second language… All of them run the CBSE components.”

Sundar questioned if the DMK was so explicit about Tamil, Tamil tradition, and Tamil language, “Why did they not run state board faculties?”

“The utmost quantity of people that really take up Hindi as a language is from Tamil Nadu. So regardless of the unsuitable propaganda you’re making an attempt to do, you continue to have folks taking on Hindi as a second language,” she added.

Requested to touch upon the BJP’s notion of being an anti-minority social gathering, Sundar mentioned that each scheme of the Modi authorities was for every citizen and that there was no discrimination.

Commenting on a current controversy involving former BJP MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, who turned away Muslim girls from a charity occasion in Tonk district, the place he distributed blankets to poor households, with the remark that “they abuse PM Modi”, Sundar mentioned it was an unlucky incident. “I’m very positive that even Modi ji wouldn’t settle for that,” she mentioned.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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