To counter the clamour for separate Tamil Nadu, autonomy and partition of southern states from the DMK camp, which has been started echoing in the air for some time, BJP’s Assembly floor leader Nainar Nagendran on 5th July, expressed a desire that Tamil Nadu needs to be bifurcated like ancient Pandiya Naadu and Pallava Naadu.
A couple of days back, DMK MP and ex-Union minister, A Raja, has stoked a controversy by asking the Centre not to force the Dravidian party to revive the demand for a “separate Tamil Nadu” by denying state autonomy. He urged PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to push the DMK to revive the Periyar’s (EV Ramaswamy Naicker) demand for secession.
Recently, Christian preacher Jagat Gaspar Raj said. “If you are 40 per cent, you ask for 40 per cent of land as a partition; there is nothing wrong. We will live peacefully with 40 per cent. Even if Muslims demand 20 per cent of land, you will land to size of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka. The speeches of Raja and Jagat Gasper are nothing new but is a part of a grand design that was finalized in 2020 itself. Using the word to refer Central government as a Union government, refusing to Jai Hind in the state assembly and now the demand for a separate state with full autonomy or partition are part of the design. The plot, it is alleged, was conceived by DMK with the support of more than 180 fringe outfits, left and VCK. Accordingly, they are using available platforms to stage their pre-scripted ones.
Speaking at a protest held by the party in Tirunelveli against the DMK government’s alleged failure to fulfil its poll promises, the BJP MLA Nagrendran said, “While he (Raja) expressed his opinion on a separate Tamil Nadu, I wish Tamil Nadu is bifurcated for administrative purposes.” The Tirunelveli MLA said “a separate Tamil Nadu, as sought by Raja, could be created on the lines of the carving out of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh for better administration and holistic development. It is my personal wish like the Pandiya Naadu and Pallava Naadu, Tamil Nadu could be divided into two states, and the BJP Chief Minister will rule the new states in future to ensure better administration and unprecedented growth with funding from the BJP-led government at the Centre. States like sprawling Tamil Nadu with 234 assembly segments could be bifurcated into two with 117 constituencies each for ensuring better and holistic growth.
He cited how Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated and added that the prime minister can take such steps. He recalled “when Tirunelveli was a bigger district, Thoothukudi was carved out during AIADMK’s founder and former CM MGR’s regime while Tenkasi was formed further dividing Tirunelveli district during Edapadi K Palaniswamy regime. Hence TN can be divided and BJP candidates will be the Chief Ministers and act as a ‘double engines’ for speedy and better development of the new states. Please don’t think we can’t do it, as we are in this place and can do it.
Reacting to his remarks, DMK spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha member TKS Elangovan said, “Nagendran wants to prove the BJP never respects the Constitution and people’s sentiments.” He said, “there is no demand for Tamil Nadu to be separated. The BJP hasn’t done this even for the large state of Uttar Pradesh. However, even if the state is divided, the DMK will come to power in the new States and become a national party”.
The two-day session of the BJP’s National Executive meeting at Hyderabad was held with a ‘Mission South’ agenda ahead of the 2024 general elections. It has adopted a resolution to “remove all family-run political parties in the next 30 years.
BJP chief Annamalai said that TN cabinet is waiting for the emergence of an Eknath Shinde. “BJP’s efforts to end the Dynasty rule or family rule has so far been effective in many states. Now the DMK has developed cold feet and started making confusing demands only to earn sympathy if in the case of losing power. It wants a reason to win votes”, Praveen Kumar, journalist.
