Amit Shah woke up on the busy street in front of the Chennai airport to greet his followers.
Chennai:
Union Interior Minister and BJP top leader Amit Shah received a big welcome in Chennai this afternoon when he got out of his vehicle and took an unscheduled walk on the busy street outside the airport to greet his supporters, after landing in the capital of Tamil Nadu for a two day visit. Shah will address the party workers and give his strategy to the state BJP to break out of the politically elusive state before next year’s assembly elections.
It will also dedicate a new depot on the outskirts of Chennai and lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs. 67,000 crore, including the second phase of the Chennai metro.
The visit comes amid signs of tension in ties between the BJP and the ruling AIADMK of Tamil Nadu, its ally.
Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, E Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, high-ranking members of the cabinet and the BJP head of state, L Murugan, were among those who met him at the airport.
While BJP sources said they are confident the alliance with AIADMK will continue, the regional party sees no political significance in Shah’s visit. AIADMK sources said they see it as a government function.
Two issues that became hotbeds in BJP-AIADMK relations recently were the “Vetri Vel Yatra” and the BJP using the iconic AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran or “MGR” alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a campaign video. .
The BJP’s “Vetri Vel Yatra”, planned from November 6 to December 6, was conceptualized in honor of Lord Muruga known for his “Vel” or spear.
When the AIADMK government banned the yatra over Covid concerns, the BJP asserted its right to host the event. The BJP said its rally, an annual exercise, was against what it called the anti-Hindu agenda of some parties.
Soon after, AIADMK was reportedly upset when the BJP used MGR’s clip in a campaign video with PM Modi.
Tamil Nadu will vote for a new government in less than six months. This will be the first state election after the death of the highest leaders of the two main rival parties, J Jayalalithaa of AIADMK and M Karunanidhi of DMK, and the BJP feels an opportunity to try to create their space in an important state in the part southern part of the country, where the ruling party remains largely a supporting player except in Karnataka.
The AIADMK is regarded by the BJP as a friendly party and has helped the government push through legislation through Rajya Sabha in parliament, where the opposition has an advantage.
The AIADMK-BJP alliance suffered a major defeat in Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
(With PTI inputs)
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