Ahead of Shah’s visit on July 9, Rao bets big on BJP’s future in TN

Rao also said that the party’s national president Amit Shah will visit Chennai on July 9 to meet the party leaders and finalise the strategy of the party. “He will start a preparation program for the party to spread in Tamil Nadu. In the coming days, the BJP will represent Tamil pride and glory with utmost priority,” he said.

Replying to a query on BJP’s alliance partners MDMK, PMK and DMDK in the last assembly polls now turning its opposition, Rao said without those parties, the BJP has become more formidable.

“I do not rule out looking for allies in the Lok Sabha elections. Even at the national level, the number of parties will keep increasing,” he said told newspersons.

On growing protests against the state and central governments over green corridor project, the BJP leader said that the state government should handle the situation effectively by convincing the agitating farmers.

“Protests are normal whenever land is acquired for infrastructure development projects. It is the duty of the state government to come out with a win-win formula to convince farmers against such protests,” he said, adding that the party isn’t bothered about protests by anti-BJP forces.

Stating that this is a crucial time for the BJP to grow in Tamil Nadu, Rao said, the political scene in the state is in the threshold of a new era. “Leaders of parties (DMK and AIADMK), which ruled the state for the past 50 years have changed. Keeping this in mind, the BJP is involved in developing new strategies to face the coming polls,” he added.

Pointing out that Congress as a national party is fast disappearing, particularly in South India, Rao said the party has lost Kerala, disappeared from Tamil Nadu decades back, got decimated in Andhra Pradesh, lost power in Telangana and was also defeated in Karnataka as it managed to win only lesser constituencies.

To a query on the shutting down of industries after GST implementation, the BJP leader said that state governments can represent issues to the GST Council, which will take all necessary steps to mitigate the hardships of all sectors.

Earlier he addressed industrialists at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was also addressed by Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan.