Six different political parties are in government in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka Kerala and Puducherry.
Each one of them have their ideological positioning different from that of Congress and also BJP. In fact most of the state parties be it YSR Congress headed by Jagan Reddy or NR Congress of Puducherry headed by N Rangaswamy were splinter groups of AICC. But in Karnakata and Puducherry the BJP is in power. DMK’s MK Stalin is posited in Tamil Nadu while in Kerala it is the Communist party’s Pinarayi Vijayan CPM. In Telangana it is the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi. K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The Setbacks For The Regional Parties
If the approach of these parties are analysed from political and administrative angles, all the four parties except YSRCP failed when they voted for Yashwant Sinha and Draupadi Murmu won as President of India. In the same breadth Margret Alwa was defeated miserably and Jagdeep Dhakar won as Vice President of India. These two high offices elections were a major political set back for southern regional parties.
Rahul Gandhi’s reluctance to take over as Congress chief is another setback to the regional rivals of the BJP.
That is because these four parties of south India depend more on Rahul Gandhi’s pan-India image. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls DMK projected Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister . But Narendra Modi won. Conversely, Congress also needs the regional forces like DMK as the Congress is also getting weakend organisationally and losing their governments.
Voters in these six states might have been empowered by these parties but all of the six parties are keen to get closer to the Union Government so that their states economic packages, extra grants special care on projects could be expedited.
At the same time, there is also a perception and mindset change among the voters in these states.
Why The Change Of Mindset?
When Yogi Adityanath got re-elected as second time Chief Minister the perception about the BJP in six southern states had dramatically undergone a 360 degree change. People’s power added to that the Modi-Yogi double engine effect in Hindi heartland is unassailable. A change of mood therefore is quietly taking place in the minds of southern voters too. Four parties DMK, YSRCP, CPM and TRS are vehemently opposing Narendra Modi and BJP. Before UP elections these parties were of the view that BJP and Modi will lose Uttar Pradesh and therefore logically the 2024 Lok Sabha poll verdict will favour Opposition parties. The principle catch in these parties are not so favourable towards Hindus, but with anti-Hindi and divisive rhetoric in the name of social justice and what not, the parties are playing their game. But the entire controversies got evaporated with one victory of Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh. It has washed out the negative feelings. Since voters are below 35 years and are attracted towards the digital transformation of India by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, best handling of the Corona crisis, no corruption charges in eight years of Modi rule are have appealed to the youth.
2023 Assembly Polls Will Be Closely Watched
Regional parties are waiting for a year more to cross 2023. Till such time the southern CMs want to be in right side of Narendra Modi. Especially to get financial packages. That is the main reason why MK Stalin is not making a big U turn. Same MK Stalin’s DMK which had shown black flags to PM Modi put black balloons on air, created an anti-North Indian sentiments like pani poor sellers only speak Hindi, have chaned after UP victory. MK Stalin invited Prime Minister to visit Tamil Nadu to open international chess tournament TRS leader Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao waited for four days in New Delhi to get a meeting scheduled with Prime Minister but returned back empty handed without meeting Modi. Almost all the six regional parties have now mellowed down the abusive languages against Prime Minister.
DMK’s Soft Approach Towards BJP
Chief Minister M K Stalin said his party, the DMK, would never compromise on its core ideology.
“The DMK will never strike a compromise with the BJP and the RSS ever, even for the smallest thing,” said the CM while participating in the 60th birthday celebration of VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan in Chennai. Referring to his Delhi visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin said as chief minister, he was going to Delhi to get development schemes and projects from the Union Government and he was doing so as the CM of the state. “So, there is only a relationship between the state government and the Union government. And there is no relationship between the DMK and the BJP and their ideologies,” said Stalin.
“DMK is strong in its ideology. We will not compromise with BJP and RSS. I am not going to Delhi to fold my hands and to sit and hear what they say. I am Kalaingar’s (former DMK president M Karunanidhi) son. I am going to Delhi to get schemes for the people of my state,” said Stalin as if to clear the doubts, if any, of his allies and supporters. “I will assure you that the Dravidian Model slogan would reverberate. We will not give up the Dravidian ideology ever and the Dravidian Model slogan will reverberate,” he said. Stating that the “relationship” between VCK and DMK was beyond electoral politics, Stalin said none can draw a wedge between them.
Jagan Is Keen To Denounce Naidu
For the second time this month, YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy met PM Modi on two occasions.
According to highly placed sources in Jagan Reddy camp, an appointment sought with the Prime Minister for a detailed discussion on issues relating to N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party.
There was a talk that the CM Jagan would seek one-on-one meeting Modi on August 7 itself, after the meeting of the NITI Aayog general council, but the PM was extremely busy due to various developments including swearing-in of new Vice President of India and conclusion of winter session of Parliament .
Apparently, Jagan asked for an appointment with PM Modi then itself and the PMO communicated to him that he could come on August 17.
The meeting assumes significance in the wake of reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party has started showing some inclination towards the Telugu Desam Party and it was evident at the recent crisp meeting of Modi with TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi.
Sources said the meeting of Jagan with Modi would be at least for an hour, as they would be discussing many issues – right from political, to personal, to the issues concerning Andhra Pradesh.
While the Centre has been liberal in granting funds to the state, there are many tricky issues to be resolved, particularly Polavaram dam construction and rehabilitation issues, which have become a major headache for the state.
Besides, CM Jagan also may seek the Centre’s support to the state on three capitals issue, in the wake of reports that the state might move the Supreme Court challenging the March 3 HighCourt judgement on Amaravati.
Since present Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, who Jagan thinks is the main hurdle for the three capitals issue, will be retiring in another two weeks, the state government is planning to file the SLP in the Supreme Court later.
If the Centre can cooperate with the state government, Jagan can get a stay on the HC order. This may be one of the issues Jagan might discuss with Modi.
The coming months will see a lot of these parties like DMK and YSRCP cozing up to the BJP once they emerge victorious in Gujarat, Karnataka and Himachal.
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