Tamilisai says UP win boosts party hopes in TN too

“We will go to the civic polls and RK Nagar bypoll with more enthusiasm, which the poll outcome in Uttar Pradesh and other states has given us,” BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters here. The local body elections in the state will be held before May 14. 

The Madras High Court had recently directed the State Election Commission to hold civic polls before May 14. Tamilisai said since 1967, the people have been witnessing “corrupt governance” alternately by Dravidian parties like the AIADMK and DMK. 

“People of Tamil Nadu are ready to give us the opportunity,” she said, adding that the electorate would not favour Dravidian parties this time. 

Answering a question on the recent killing of a Rameswaram fisherman, the BJP leader said it was “very unfortunate” and that her party was committed to the welfare of fishermen. “Seventy-five fishermen have been released by Sri Lanka. Do not try to judge our party by a single incident. In the past two-and-ahalf years, this is the first (killing) such incident to happen. Also, this will be the last such thing,” she said. Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah for the poll wins, Tamilisai said though political opponents had claimed that BJP would be shunted out in the polls after demonetisation, the people had proved them wrong. She said after the demonetisation drive, BJP’s showing in civic elections in several states, including Maharashtra and Odisha, showed that “people are with Prime Minister Modi.”     

“The huge increase in tally in the number of legislators will translate into more MPs for the party in Rajya Sabha and it will in turn help pass legislations swiftly for people’s welfare,” the BJP leader added.