Chennai: The BJP’s cannons that boomed loud before the May Assembly elections appear to have fallen silent. Hardly three months of its dismal performance in the Assembly election, the realisation that it can’t take the Modi-wave or his schemes to the far-flung corners of Tamil Nadu without the state’s cooperation, has dawned on the saffron party.
There has been a paradigm shift in the BJP’s strategy that has emerged with the Cauvery issue now. The Central Ministers and also Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s rancorous critic and BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan have stopped criticising the CM.
While Dr Tamilisai has acknowledged Ms. Jayalalithaa’s role in her pursuit of legal measures in the Cauvery issue, particularly in getting the SC direct the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan who had always refrained from openly finding fault with Ms. Jayalalithaa has begun to address her as “Amma.”
Dr Tamilisai would also like to emphasise that the Narendra Modi-led government’s clarification on the water storage position in the Cauvery has helped Tamil Nadu to start getting justice on the issue.
Many Central projects including the development of major port at Enayam near Colachel in Kanyakumari district could progress if the state government cooperated especially when it comes to acquiring lands and sorting out issues with the locals. Mr Radhakrishnan who had recently called on Ms Jayalalithaa, expressed that she had assured her support for the Enayam port and also the development of infrastructure at other ports.
“The announcement of four more smart cities for TN only shows Centre’s interest in the state’s welfare,” a senior BJP leader explained and pointed out that development could be ensured only when the Centre and State governments enjoy friendly ties.
Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu who air-dashed to the city on Tuesday night for the inaugural of the airport – Little Mount Metro Rail passenger service, was all praise for the government led by Jayalalithaa. “TN is a progressive state and the Centre is extending whole hearted support to the state government in implementing infrastructure and development projects,” he said.
