Chennai: The absence of Brahmin candidates from the BJP and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) lists in Tamil Nadu has left the neighborhood in a state of dilemma. Many anticipate a possible cut up within the anti-Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) votes because of this.
“We are a little upset and unhappy,” Pammal S. Ramakrishnan, state coordinator for the Thamizhnadu Brahmin Affiliation (Tambras), advised ThePrint. “Over the past 30 years, we have been hardcore supporters of the AIADMK and BJP. They were in an alliance, and both parties are friendly with us.”
The Brahmin neighborhood, he stated, had hopes that the BJP would accommodate candidates from the neighborhood as there have been talks of fielding H. Raja from Chennai South and Karthikeyan from Mayiladuthurai. “But after some alliance talks and confusion, suddenly the Hyderabad governor came and she was very keen on South Chennai. She should have gone to her community belt in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, or Thoothukudi,” Ramakrishnan stated, including that Mayiladuthurai was given to BJP’s ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).
As per the BJP candidates checklist, former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is the social gathering’s candidate from Chennai South constituency. She’s going to run in opposition to DMK’s sitting MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian and AIADMK’s ex-MP J. Jayavardhan. The BJP, which is contesting from 20 seats, has allotted its greatest ally within the state, the PMK, 10 seats in Tamil Nadu.
“In this situation in Tamil Nadu. DMK is our main enemy because of their attitude,” Ramakrishnan stated.
He added that many native cadres of the DMK are supportive of the neighborhood however the state management makes undesirable feedback, together with remarks in opposition to Sanatana Dharma. “The are unnecessarily talking ill of Hinduism and the Brahmin community. It’s quite unwarranted,” he added.
“At one point in time, there was a perception that the BJP was a Brahmin party. But the BJP, of late, or at least for the past 10 years, has been trying to dispel that image. Because that will not fetch them votes,” stated Maalan Narayanan, a political analyst based mostly in Chennai, to ThePrint.
Speaking about their shut relationship with the AIADMK, Ramakrishnan stated the neighborhood was given illustration by the social gathering in the course of the tenure of J. Jayalalithaa, the late Brahmin chief.
He added that the neighborhood hoped until the final minute that the AIADMK-BJP alliance would possibly proceed because the BJP excessive command was very eager on having an alliance with the Dravidian social gathering.
Now, stated Ramakrishnan, regardless that his affiliation has introduced its help to the BJP, the Brahmin neighborhood is in a dilemma since each AIADMK and BJP are pleasant in direction of the neighborhood. He added that AIADMK has higher candidates in lots of locations. Nonetheless, in constituencies comparable to Chennai South, and Kancheepuram, the place there are numerous Brahmin voters, each AIADMK and BJP candidates would possibly lose. He stated the Affiliation is planning to give you concepts for consolidating the anti-DMK votes.
Nonetheless, Narayan Thirupathy, the BJP spokesperson in Tamil Nadu, advised ThePrint that the social gathering “doesn’t see caste while choosing candidates”.
“BJP never fields a candidate seeing their caste identity. There is no doubt that Brahmins were supporting the party. They will be supporting us, and there is no doubt about that. We had Brahmin candidates in other elections. But in this election, it so happens that there are no Brahmin candidates. And it doesn’t mean that we have neglected them. BJP never believes in caste politics,” Thirupathy stated.
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan, too, stated the social gathering didn’t contemplate caste whereas deciding on candidates and added that there are not any constituencies dominated by Brahmins in Tamil Nadu.
In meeting elections, there are constituencies comparable to Mylapore and Kumbakonam which are dominated by Brahmins. However it’s not the case in Parliamentary polls, Sathyan stated.
Additionally learn: Acquainted face, senior chief, rapport with events — why Tamilisai issues for BJP in Tamil Nadu
‘Brahmin voters are also admirers of Modi’
Maalan famous that the BJP, which beforehand had Brahmin leaders heading the state, has solely appointed non-Brahmin leaders to key positions within the state management during the last decade.
Whereas BJP’s state president Annamalai hails from the Gounder neighborhood, an OBC caste, the previous state chief Tamilisai Soundararajan hails from the Nadaar neighborhood and state minister L. Murugan belongs to the SC neighborhood.
“The only hope that the BJP has is that most of the Brahmin voters are also admirers of Modi. They can hope that the Modi factor is going to help them,” he stated.
In keeping with Maalan, the Brahmin help for the AIADMK was down principally as a result of anti-DMK sentiment within the state and the shortage of a 3rd choice.
“AIADMK doesn’t have Brahmin leaders. After Jayalalithaa’s death, many of them are dormant,” he stated.
He added that the majority of AIADMK’s candidates are OBC candidates as a result of anti-Brahmin sentiment prevalent within the state.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Additionally learn: Day after SC rap, Tamil Nadu governor says will induct DMK chief Ponmudy in Stalin’s cupboard