Chennai: The BJP’s allegations of money and muscle power dominating the Tamil Nadu poll scenario has become louder and more credible owing to the adjournment of election in the Aravakurichi Assembly constituency (in Karur district). Also, the party continues to be the target of attack and the latest is the assault on its State vice-president and Coimbatore South candidate Vanathi Srinivasan.
Amidst hectic campaigning in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections party president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan had then told this correspondent that it was becoming increasingly difficult for national parties like the BJP and even smaller parties to contest the elections as they could hardly match the money and muscle power of the Dravidian parties. “Organisationally we are strong, but the excessive distribution of cash to voters and attacking our candidates appear to spill over to this Assembly election too,” a senior leader said.
The saffron party suffered a jolt in September 2014, when its nominee for the Tirunelveli Mayoral election G.P.R. Vellaiammal joined the AIADMK in the midst of allegations then of the BJP leadership that money and muscle power was ruling the roost.
Even before the wounds could heal, the BJP found its party candidate for Chennai Corporation Ward no. 166 (in the councillor elections) Needhi Xavier joining the AIADMK the same year.
The BJP suffered further shock when its members campaigning for Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan were attacked in Virugambakkam while those campaigning for national secretary and T. Nagar candidate H. Raja were attacked on May 13.
Sunday’s attack on Ms Vanathi Srinivasan had only strengthened the case of the BJP that the members of the ruling AIADMK were targeting them.
