Ever since the DMK came to power, it has been referring to the Central Government as ‘Union Government’ intentionally which the critics of the party allege that the term carries separatist undertones under the garb of ‘federalism’.
Apart from this, several other moves of the DMK government like its Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan’s blaming of the GST Council and its process during the meetings and forming of a committee ‘to study the impact of NEET’, appointment of a 5 member Economic Advisory Council with members who have share an agenda against the Modi-led Government Central are being seen as deliberate provocations.
To top it all, a DMK ally MLA (E.R. Eswaran of the Kongu Desiya Makkal Katchi) had disrespected the Jai Hind slogan in the floor of the Assembly by saying that the DMK has made Tamil Nadu proud by removing ‘Jai Hind’ slogan from the Governor’s address. Chief Minister MK Stalin made no comments on this and other senior leaders of the DMK sought to justify their ally MLA’s remarks. DMK Minister K. Ponmudy in a recent interview to a private television channel had even asked ‘What is wrong in not saying Jai Hind?’ and that CM Stalin has decided to do away with the slogan.
According to reports, the Modi Government and the top brass of the BJP which has been watching these developments closely is said to be dissatisfied with this provocative behavior of the DMK government and has decided to retaliate.
Dr. L. Murugan, a native of the Kongu region, who was serving as the BJP Tamil Nadu President was made Union Minister in the newly formed Cabinet.
The profiles of Ministers released through the official handles of the BJP and other government portals like MyGov showed Dr. L. Murugan identifying himself as hailing from Kongu Naadu.
Following this, former IPS officer K. Annamalai, who hails from Karur (also part of the Kongu region) was elevated as the head of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
It is to be noted that in this region, the BJP has a good vote bank as evident from even the recently concluded Assembly elections. The AIADMK-BJP combine swept the region with the DMK getting routed completely. The BJP currently has 2 MLAs – Vanathi Srinivasan (Coimbatore South) and Dr. Saraswathi (Modakurichi) from this region.
The Kongu region comprises of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri, Nilgiris, Karur and Krishnagiri districts which are located in the western part of Tamil Nadu. This region is the wealthiest contributing the highest share of revenue to Tamil Nadu due its vibrant small, medium and large scale industries. It is also an educational hub and has a bustling talent pool.
There are 10 Lok Sabha constituencies and 61 Assembly constituencies. The Central Government is planning to declare this region of Kongu Naadu as a separate Union Territory, similar to Pondicherry, with a total of 90 Assembly constituencies by including some adjoining constituencies.
It is being said that the Modi Government is considering carving out Kongu Naadu from Tamil Nadu and declare it as a Union Territory. If reports are to be believed, the BJP is said to be mulling over who to appoint as Lieutenant Governor.
All these developments are being seen as a direct response to the DMK which has been calling the Government of India as ‘Ondriya Arasu’. Many on social media belonging to the Kongu region has largely been supportive of the BJP government’s move.
It remains to be seen if the BJP will capitalize on a demand for Kongu Naadu to establish its dominance in the state before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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