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BJP not dependent on actors like Congress- Tamilisai Soundararajan
BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, in this exclusive interview, details how the party has grown in strength and how ‘factional conflict’ is a difference of opinion and not an impediment to victory
By
migrator
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Chennai
Chennai: Has BJP commenced its preparations to face the upcoming elections?
In full swing. Poll works have been split into 38 sections. Each section has a team comprising an in-charge person and members. In-charges for all 234 constituencies have been appointed.
How strong is the BJP in Tamil Nadu?
The BJP already has a strength of 9 lakh in Tamil Nadu while the missed call system helped raise the number by 51 lakh. We are meeting the new members in person.
The MDMK quit the alliance with the BJP after the parliamentary elections and it is clear that the BJP will not have an alliance with the PMK since they want a tie up with the one that accepts Dr Anbumani Ramadoss as chief minister in the future. With which parties will the BJP have an alliance in the ensuing assembly elections?
The NDA alliance was created in Tamil Nadu during the parliamentary elections of 2014. Only the MDMK quit the alliance officially while the others are against the Dravidian parties. I am happy about the DMDK opposing the Dravidian parties. It is the responsibility of the DMDK, PMK and other friendly parties too. I believe this alliance will certainly emerge victorious.
Is there a possibility of the BJP having an alliance with a Dravidian party in the future?
We bagged about 19.5 per cent of votes in the 2014 parliamentary elections with an alliance against the AIADMK and the DMK. When the DMK and the Congress lost, our alliance secured a seat in Puducherry and two in Tamil Nadu. This is evidence enough that the people are looking for a change from the Dravidian parties. And we will bring in this change.
What is your opinion of MK Stalin’s ‘Namaku Naamae’ campaign?
Leaders promise big if they come back to power, but do nothing during their tenure. Karunanidhi was a five-time chief minister while Stalin was the deputy chief minister once.
When they did nothing during these times, how can they do anything in the future?
So this campaign is certainly not going to bring any change even as the people are not ready to put their trust in him anymore.
The DMK was an ally of the BJP years back: what is your view of Stalin’s statement that 90 per cent of DMK members belong to the Hindu religion when he visited the temple at Thirukoshtiyur, and met the priests at temples in Rameswaram and Thanjavur?
They have hurt the sentiments of Hindus and are attempting to earn their trust for the sake of votes. Religious beliefs and faith should be a part of life, not just part of one’s walking or election campaign. People are sure that it is a drama to gain political mileage.
The Congress has fielded actors Khushbu and Naghma. Other parties too have some star orators. Will Tamil Nadu actors join the BJP?
I would neither underestimate the cine actors nor would I overestimate them. They add strength to the campaign. They contribute to the introduction but the parties don’t grow due to them. It is unfortunate that the Congress frontlines actors. We respect them but we don't lack anything by not having them in the party. The BJP is not dependent on them.
It is quite evident that the BJP has factional conflict just like the Congress. Won’t this affect the election works?
There are certainly no factional conflicts in the BJP. There are some differences between members but not among the party leaders. There is democracy in the party. We might come out with different opinions, which does not mean there is a difference of opinion. We will emerge victorious.
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