The BJP is all set to kick-start its electioneering by bringing in star campaigners Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to the southern districts.
Though Election Commission of India is yet to announce general election schedule, the BJP has started its poll preparations.
Mr. Modi, after his first election rally at Tirupur on February 10, is scheduled to address a public meeting in Kanniyakumari on February 19 as the BJP is very keen on retaining the Lok Sabha seat in the southernmost tip of the country with a sizeable margin by fielding Union Minister of State for Shipping and Finance Pon. Radhakrishnan again.
In 2014, the Opposition vote was split among H. Vasanthakumar of the Congress, John Thangam of the AIADMK and F.M. Rajarathinam of the DMK and that made Mr. Radhakrishnan’s win inevitable. Since, the district has elected only DMK and Congress MLAs – S. Austin, N. Suresh Rajan, Mano Thangaraj (DMK) and J.G. Prince, Rajesh Kumar and Vijayadharani (Congress) – to the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the election held in 2016, the Opposition parties, by fielding a potential candidate like Mr. Vasanthakumar, who managed to garner over 2.44 lakh votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, will make all-out efforts to wrest Kanniyakumari constituency from Mr. Radhakrishnan.
On February 19 Mr. Modi is expected to dedicate to the nation a few projects executed with Centre’s funding, including Kanniyakumari-Kashmir four-lane national highway and lay foundation stones for new projects.
“Despite a few significant development works implemented by Mr. Radhakrishnan, including overbridges at Parvathipuram and Marthandam, the religious divide has in fact deepened further in the district owing to a few unpleasant developments. The stiff opposition from fishermen against container transhipment terminal proposal may also work against Mr. Radhakrishnan. Hence, to neutralise these effects, Mr. Modi is being brought here,” said a professor of a leading arts and science college in Nagercoil.
Mr. Adityanath, a firebrand speaker, is scheduled to address party workers in Palayamkottai on February 12.
BJP cadre firmly believe that the party that won only Kanniyakumari segment would get a few more seats this time with the campaigning of heavyweights like Mr. Modi and Mr. Adityanath.
“Efforts to form formidable alliance with like-minded parties has reached the final stage and a decisive shape will emerge within a couple of weeks. This time, with the backing of our achievements over the past four years and of course, the alliance, we’re sure to win good number of seats in Tamil Nadu,” said Ganeshkumar Adityan, vice-president of BJP’s farmers’ wing.
