BJP firms up alliance with GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress in Tamil Nadu

TMC was launched by veteran leader, the late GK Moopanar in 1996 after he walked out of the Congress protesting against its decision to align with the AIADMK for polls. However, it merged with the Congress in 2002 but Vasan quit the national party in 2014 and revived it.

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‘TMC has a national outlook’

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the former Union minister said TMC, ever since the days of its founding by Moopanar, has had a “national outlook.” The decision to join hands with the BJP included issues like the welfare of Tamil Nadu and Tamils and a strong and prosperous India.

“Today, economic growth and security of the nation is very important. Uplift of poor people is more important, infrastructure is very important. We are going to be the third economic power in the world. All this put together, TMC wants a government, a Prime Minister who can really achieve this,” he said and lauded the BJP and PM Narendra Modi for delivering in various sectors in the last decade.

“Tamil Maanila Congress, as part of NDA will face the coming elections under BJP’s leadership,” he said, adding he will attend Prime Minister Modi’s public meeting at Palladam in Tirupur district on Tuesday.

Vasan’s announcement marks the first official tie-up the BJP has managed to forge in Tamil Nadu ahead of the polls, amidst its attempts to create a grouping other than those headed by the ruling DMK and the AIADMK.

After party joining of Smt Vijayadharini , Cong MLA from Viviancode AC in Kanyakumari today Sri GK Vasan extends his party’s ( Tamil Manila Congress ) support to NDA led by PM Sri @narendramodi . Interesting developments to follow .

— B L Santhosh ( Modi Ka Parivar ) (@blsanthosh) February 26, 2024

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End of AIADMK alliance

A part of the AIADMK-led NDA coalition in Tamil Nadu that faced the 2021 Assembly polls, Vasan’s announcement signals his party’s end of ties with the main Opposition party in the state.

The Edappadi K Palaniswami-headed AIADMK had announced severing ties with the BJP in September 2023.

Vasan also indicated that his party’s slogan ‘Prosperous Tamil Nadu, Strong India,” was in tune with the Union government’s various steps.

Asked about a ministerial berth for his party in the event of BJP ensuring a third term, Vasan said the “alliance with BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is for respectability, for mutual understanding and for the goal of achieving a powerful India and a prosperous Tamil Nadu.”

Further, the alliance was based on trust, Vasan, who was Shipping minister in the Congress-led UPA II regime, said.

Also Read: DMK begins seat allotment to allies in Tamil Nadu for Lok Sabha polls

BJP in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu voters had witnessed BJP winning the two earlier elections (2014, 2019) with good support from other states and want the saffron party to earn a third term to ensure economic development, and betterment of the poor.

They have ‘realised’ that another term under  Modi will lead to economic prosperity and reduction in poverty, among others, Vasan added.

BJP state president K Annamalai, who addressed the press jointly with Vasan later, welcomed the TMC’s move.

He described TMC as a “very good and traditional party.”

“Vasan’s advice is very much required in the coming days. We will seek his advice and create a strong alliance,” to face the polls, he said.

Further, Vasan has always been a voice from TN supporting Modi, and “they have a bond,” Annamalai said.

Incidentally, the BJP had stitched a multi-party coalition for the 2014 Parliamentary elections and the constituents included the DMDK, MDMK and PMK. However, the bloc could manage to win only 2 seats in Tamil Nadu as the J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK swept the polls.

Hitting out at the ruling DMK, Vasan said it has failed to implement the pre-poll promises.

“The DMK government has become anti-people. The burden it has put on people — increase in milk prices, power tariff — are some examples… it has failed to reflect the aspirations of the common people.”

He said TMC firmly believes that Tamil Nadu will pave the way for another “good regime” at the Centre under the BJP. More parties could join the BJP-led alliance in the coming days, he added.

நமது மாண்புமிகு பாரதப் பிரதமர் திரு @narendramodi அவர்களின் அன்பைப் பெற்ற தலைவர்களில் ஒருவரான, தமிழ் மாநிலக் காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியின் தலைவர், மரியாதைக்குரிய திரு @GK__Vasan அவர்களை @BJP4TamilNadu பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தல் பொறுப்பாளர் திரு @MenonArvindBJP அவர்களுடன் சந்தித்து, வரும்… pic.twitter.com/5QUrOCMJnj

— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) February 26, 2024

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