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The BJP can't win in Tamil Nadu by showcasing Lord Murugan, says CPI State secretary Mutharasan
Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary R. Mutharasan said on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not gain ground in Tamil Nadu by invoking Lord Murugan.
Speaking at the launch of the logo for the CPI's 26th State Conference, to be held in Salem from August 15 to 18, Mr. Mutharasan said a special seminar, Velga Jananayagam, Veelga Fascism, would take place on the evening of August 16. INDIA bloc leaders, including DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, are expected to take part in it.
CPI national secretary D. Raja and other senior leaders are to take part at the conference that will discuss national and international political developments and pass political resolutions.
Asked about BJP leaders claiming that parties in the DMK-led alliance would switch sides, Mr. Mutharasan said the DMK-led coalition was based on ideology and not on electoral considerations. 'The alliance has successfully contested in two Lok Sabha and other elections. It will remain a strong ideological front,' he said.
Criticising the BJP's recent strategies, he said, 'The BJP, which has failed to win over the Tamil Nadu electors on various issues, is now trying to capitalise on Lord Murugan. The conference of Lord Murugan devotees held in Madurai resembled a political event promoting Hindu unity and calling for the dissolution of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.' He added that the BJP's religious appeals did not yield any result even in Ayodhya in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, suggesting that they were unlikely to succeed in Tamil Nadu either.
Mr. Mutharasan alleged that the Madurai conference disrespected iconic Dravidian leaders such as Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and C.N. Annadurai. He criticised AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for extending his wishes to the event, claiming that the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP was due to 'political compulsion'.
As for seat-sharing with the DMK for the 2026 Assembly election, Mr. Mutharasan said such matters would be discussed at the appropriate time. 'Every party naturally wants more seats, but there is no issue within the DMK-led alliance. Chief Minister Stalin is administering the State excellently; he has even surpassed his father M. Karunanidhi. He is firm in his ideological stance, and all parties in the alliance appreciate his leadership,' he said.
Regarding the possibility of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) joining the DMK-led alliance, Mr. Mutharasan said it was up to Mr. Stalin, the alliance leader, to make such decisions.
