Amit Shah in Chennai with strained ties with ally BJP in Tamil Nadu
Amid signs of tension in the relationship between the BJP and the ruling AIADMK of Tamil Nadu, comes as an ally of Amit Shah’s visit.
Chennai: Union Home Minister and BJP’s top leader Amit Shah was given a grand welcome in Chennai this afternoon as he got out of his vehicle and landed on the busy road outside the airport to greet supporters after landing in the capital of Tamil Nadu. Traveled uncontrollably on foot. Two-day visit Mr. Shah will address party workers as well as give his strategy to the state BJP to break up the politically elusive state ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
It will also dedicate a new reservoir outside Chennai and lay the foundation stone of 67,000 crore projects, including the second phase of the Chennai Metro.
The yatra came as an ally amid tensions in the relationship between the BJP and the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
Breaking protocol, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami went to pick up Mr Shah at the airport. His deputy O Panneerselvam, senior cabinet member, and BJP state chief L Murugan were also among those receiving Amit Shah at the airport.
Sources in the BJP said they were confident that the alliance with the AIADMK would continue, with regional parties not seeing any political significance in Mr. Shah’s visit. AIADMK sources said that they consider it a government function.
Two issues that have become flashpoints in the BJP-AIADMK relationship were the recent “Vetri Vail Yatra” and BJP used Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a campaign video with AIADMK’s distinguished founder MG Ramachandran or “MGR”.
The BJP’s “Vetri Vail Yatra” from November 6 to December 6 was conceptualized in honor of Lord Muruga, known for his “well” or spear.
When the AIADMK government banned travel on Kovid’s concerns, the BJP asserted its authority over the event. The BJP called its rally an annual exercise – called the anti-Hindu agenda of some parties.
Soon after, the AIADMK was reportedly upset when the BJP used clips of MGR in a campaign video featuring PG Modi.
Tamil Nadu will vote for the new government in less than six months. This would be the first state election after the death of two main rival parties — AIADMK’s Jayalalithaa and DMK’s M. Karunanidhi — and the BJP got a chance to try and carve out its place in a major state. The southern part of the country, where the ruling party is largely a minor player, except Karnataka.
The BJP considers the AIADMK as a friendly party and has helped the government to advance the legislation through the Rajya Sabha in Parliament. The AIADMK-BJP alliance suffered a landslide defeat in Tamil Nadu in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.