CHENNAI: The BJP here is far from being dejected over its Assembly poll debacle. Despite the rout in the election, the BJP claims its vote share has much improved, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance. “The BJP's vote share increased by five lakh votes this time compared to the votes we secured in 2011 Assembly elections. Those who voted for the party apparently were those who liked our PM's performance,” asserted Tamilisai Soundara-rajan, BJP state president.
Though the party gloats over the slight increase from 2.22 per cent (in 2011) to 2.8 per cent now, it is probably relieved that its former allies - DMDK founder Vijayakanth and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, who had ditched the NDA, fared rather poorly in the election. The BJP has now turned its attention on Congress and appears to derive a sense of pleasure in its sardonic jibes at that party. Though the party had fought the election assuring to provide an alternative to both the Dravidian majors, it now seems to be smug in being satisfied that its vote share had comfortably placed it in third position; and hence the barbs on Congress which was able to win eight out of 41 seats it contested.
“I still say the BJP is the only alternative to Dravidian parties. People have started realising this fact,” claims Tamilisai.
Strangely, in a state, which has an extraordinary history of being dominated by Dravidian majors, and this time a second innings for J. Jayalalithaa's AIADMK, the national party - BJP may still have a long way to emerge as an alternative. If the party here could encash on Modi's good governance and if the central leadership groomed personalities at regional level to take the party forward, the BJP would come to the striking distance of capturing power, says a senior leader.
