Analysis

Is Annamalai ready to face the Battle in the Land of Dravidians?

8 months ago
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annamalai BJP

The upcoming 2024 Parliamentary elections in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu is between the BJP and DMK. Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai earlier said that the DMK and BJP would encounter the report cards to face the elections. There are speculations that the BJP might go for a pre-poll alliance in Tamil Nadu with some regional parties aiming for 39 parliamentary constituencies. In politics, winning the Perception battle and setting the Right Narratives are the two pillars on which elections are won. Let us see how Annamalai is functioning in the Dravidian ecosystem.

Annamalai: Budding BJP Leader in South India

Cop-turned-politician Annamalai embarked on his political career in 2020 by affiliating himself with the BJP. However, it was in 2021 that he entered the political arena of Tamil Nadu by running as a candidate in the Assembly elections from Aravakurichi, located in western Tamil Nadu. Despite his electoral defeat, Annamalai’s consistent media coverage has solidified his position as a prominent political figure in a state traditionally controlled by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the AIADMK.

He has achieved success by mobilising and rallying individuals and groups to organise rallies against the policies of the DMK Government that are not beneficial to the people. Since 1972, the politics of Tamil Nadu has been controlled by two regional parties, each with its distinct mode of operation. DMK’s political strategy, when in opposition, involved regularly organising protests to criticise the decisions made by AIADMK and mobilising their supporters to take to the streets.

Diluting Brahmin Politicians in Tamil Nadu BJP

Following K Annamalai’s assumption of leadership, there have been allegations of Brahmins in critical positions being marginalised and ejected from the party. Expressing dissatisfaction with the state unit of the party, SVe Shekhar, an actor and former MLA who is a staunch supporter of PM Modi and BJP, has criticised Annamalai for his lack of political maturity. Shekhar accused the former IPS officer of engaging in the activities of phone tapping, eavesdropping, and promoting individuals with criminal histories.

The excluded Brahmin politicians include Raghavan, actress Gayathri Raghuram, and the solitary Chennai Corporation councillor Uma Anandhan from the party. Within a brief timeframe, over 30 leaders belonging to his caste, specifically the Kongu Vellalar community, were designated as state office-bearers.

Also Read: Annamalai’s “En Mann En Makkal” Padayatra: Will it help BJP in Tamilnadu?

Padayatra to Reach Grassroots

The Tamil Nadu BJP launched a six-month-long padayatra ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ (என் மண்; என் மக்கள்) (My Land, My People) on July 28 seeking a decisive mandate in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and to re-elect Narendra Modi for the third term as Prime Minister. The padayatra will cover around 1780 km, which covers all 39 parliamentary constituencies and 234 assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu. The padayatra will be attempting to consolidate a caste-based vote-bank based on social engineering.

The Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, and Sivagangai districts have mixed community-based voters. Mukkulathor, Devendrakula Vellalar, and Nadars are the prominent communities in these districts. Among that, the majority of Mukkulathors have been backing the AIADMK. The electoral strategy of the BJP is to appease these dominant OBC communities as their vote base. Another Caste, a dominant caste from the Dalit community, Devendrakula Vellalars are spread over Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi. Over the past few years, the BJP has succeeded in making inroads into the community’s vote bank. Although the BJP successfully made leaders from the Nadar community, they were unable to cater the votes. Especially in Kanniyakumari, Rameswaram, and Thoothukudi districts, Nadar and fishermen communities are substantial in numbers. In the long term, BJP would like to target them as their core voter base in southern Tamil Nadu.

Ride on Non-Brahmin Identity and Emerging Leadership

Annamalai’s youthful vigour, dynamic nature, unconventional attitude, and non-Brahmin background all contribute to his advantage. His steadfast position on matters such as the Sanatan Dharma debate, in which he fearlessly confronted the ruling DMK, has earned him the admiration of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The BJP holds the belief that this strategy has the potential to strike a chord with certain sections of society who feel uneasy with the DMK’s perceived position against Hinduism.

Criticisms regarding the leadership approach of K. Annamalai, the president of Tamil Nadu BJP, have started to surface within the party, as some individuals allege that he is engaging in one-upmanship and making independent decisions. Nevertheless, his supporters defend him by asserting that a prevailing belief has emerged that the organisation has been growing politically in the state since he assumed leadership.

Under Annmalai’s leadership, the BJP also participated in the state’s agitational politics, opposing both the AIADMK and the DMK. However, as the party’s influence was limited to Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, and a few nearby districts, it only significantly impacted the entire state. 

The majority of Tamils disapproved of the BJP leaders’ vehement criticisms of prominent figures in the Dravidian movement, such as Periyar, Annadurai, and Karunanidhi. As a result, the party had to alter its approach towards the Dravidian parties. However, the young generation is inclined towards the young leadership of Annamalai, and his attempt to deconstruct the Dravidian ideology is well received.

The BJP has levied allegations against the Dravidian parties for their shortcomings in the realm of social progress, but the official government data presents a contrasting narrative. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is questioning the concept of Social Justice, where Dalit atrocities and honour killings are very high. The official government data explicitly states that the representation of some OBC communities in power and business is high, and others were neglected. Annamalai articulates a corruption-free government, free from dynasty politics, fostering development and progress in all sectors and indicators. Moreover, he promised to eliminate disparities between urban and rural areas from infrastructure development to quality of life.

Top Brass Leadership with Annamalai

When the AIADMK party withdrew from the BJP-led NDA alliance, the reason for the rift and exodus was largely triggered by Annamalai. The immediate impetus for the collapse was K. Annamalai’s activities and E. Palaniswami’s concern regarding a fellow Gounder’s rapid rise in Tamil Nadu politics. Secondly, Annmalai’s contentious remarks on Dravidian stalwarts like Annadurai, MGR and Jayalalithaa caused serious discontent within AIADMK. The top AIADMK leadership complained about Annamalai to Nadda and Amit Shah, but as he enjoyed unwavering trust and support from the top brass of the BJP, there was silence, and national leadership abstained from intervention.

Tamil Nadu is not an easy battle for the National parties; here, the politics are based on social reformation, social justice, linguistic pride, Dravidian identity, and, eventually, constructing an egalitarian society. It will be a long journey for Annamali to win the ideological schism in the land of Periyar and Iyothee Thass. 

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