DMK unleashing false propaganda against BJP (Image Source: Swarajya)
The rising support for the BJP, combined with projections of significant electoral gains, has prompted the ruling DMK to resort to various tactics aimed at undermining the saffron party. A recent DMK survey, purportedly conducted by the party’s top echelons, suggests that the BJP is poised to secure second place in all constituencies, pushing the AIADMK to third or fourth positions.
Allegedly fearing an impending defeat, the DMK is accused of clandestine collaboration with its longtime rival, the AIADMK, to thwart the BJP’s prospects through tactics such as vote manipulation, distribution of incentives to voters, including cash and gifts, lodging false accusations, spreading misinformation, and exploiting regional divides.
Furthermore, the DMK, along with the NTK and AIADMK, made unsuccessful attempts to invalidate the nominations of Annamalai and MoS L Murugan on flimsy technicalities. Failing in its initial endeavour to obstruct their nominations, the DMK purportedly resorted to fabricating false charges against prominent BJP figures.
Additionally, law enforcement personnel were allegedly deployed to disrupt BJP gatherings, resulting in the tragic death of a BJP supporter who succumbed to injuries sustained during a police baton charge while attending MoS Murugan’s nomination filing event in Nilgiris last week.
Recently, the DMK purportedly employed an individual, disguised as an environmental activist, to disseminate falsehoods claiming that Prime Minister Modi had promised to divide Coimbatore into a Union Territory specifically for Gujaratis.
Additionally, proponents of the Dravidian ideology have initiated a campaign on social media, alleging that a North Indian group has affixed posters in Coimbatore urging members of their community to support the BJP, insinuating that Modi would incorporate Coimbatore and Tiruppur into Gujarat if the BJP emerged victorious.
According to CSIS, “Piyush Manush is a Salem based Anti-Hindu activist and staunch supporter of DMK. He often posts videos in his social media page abusing Sanatan Dharma, RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is popular among Dravidian Stock supporters.
Though, he himself is a North Indian, he often makes derogatory videos abusing North Indians particularly Marwari community living in Tamil Nadu. Apart from that, he actively took part in protests against development projects in Tamil Nadu happened over the years, in the name of environmental activism”.
It says, Piyush Manush maliciously shared a fabricated poster in X on 28th March, alleging that a North Indian organisation named Uttar Bharatiya Ekta Manch has pasted wall posters in Coimbatore asking North Indians to vote for Annamalai so that Modi will annex Coimbatore and Tiruppur with Gujarat if BJP wins.
Following is the poster content, “My dear brothers and sisters, we request you to vote for North Indian party (BJP). Annamalai is most loyal person to our Gujarat lion Modi Ji. If BJP wins, in short span of time, our Modi Ji will annex Coimbatore and Tiruppur with Gujarat. If Modi is there then it is possible. Liberate Bharat from Dravidian parties. Voting for Annamalai is vote for Modi, vote for Gujarat and vote for Uttar Pradesh”. Piyush Manush shared another fabricated post in which he says, “few Sethji (Gujarati businessmen) in closed door meeting, sincerely believe that Modi Ji will carve out Coimbatore and Tiruppur into a union territory and bring it under central government rule or annex it with a state like Gujarat”
Shortly after Piyush Manush shared the poster, the Dravidian faction activated its toolkit, disseminating the fabricated poster across social media platforms to stoke anti-BJP and anti-Annamalai sentiments by propagating hatred towards North Indians, particularly the Gujarati business community.
CSIS said “ On 29th March, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam state president Kovai Ramakrishnan, a pro LTTE supporter and Hindu phobic, along with functionaries of anti-Hindu Dravidian fringe elements has filed complaint seeking action against those who pasted the posters. Functionaries and supporters of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association have shared the poster in their social media timeline and demanded action by Election Commission. Congress leader from West Bengal Kamru Choudhury joined the propaganda bandwagon by posting tweet saying “BJP want to divide West Bengal but voters rejected them”.
Dravidian Stock supporter Dusky Tamilachi in her post says “Seems a section of Pro-BJP Marwari Hindians want Tiruppur and Coimbatore to be cleft away from Tamil Nadu and want it to be either declared a Union Territory or to be declared a part of Gujarat. This section is also campaigning for liar Annamalai”.
DMK supporter Puthu Valluvan
Consistently emphasised is the dominance of Marwaris, Gujaratis, and Banias in many businesses across cities in Tamil Nadu, leveraging their networks and financial resources. Regrettably, there lacks sufficient advocacy or grassroots backing for local enterprises to challenge these entrenched business conglomerates.
Congress Leader Kamru Choudhury says, “Before the 2021, Bengal Assembly elections, BJP leaders wanted to divide West Bengal into 3 parts. Luckily voters rejected them”.
This represents a blatant and desperate effort by proponents of the Dravidian ideology to manipulate voters by instilling fear, suggesting that Modi will incorporate Coimbatore and Tiruppur into Gujarat should Annamalai win the elections. It’s crucial to note that no reputable organisation would solicit votes by displaying wall posters insinuating support for a North Indian party with promises of annexation by Modi.
This appears to be the handiwork of Piyush Manush, hailing from the North Indian Baniya community in Salem. He has initiated legal action against Annamalai, with the state government granting sanction. However, the Supreme Court has halted proceedings following Annamalai’s petition.
During election campaigns, the DMK seems willing to resort to any means to secure votes. Its candidates have even filed nominations on auspicious dates and hours as advised by astrologers, with some going as far as visiting temples for blessings.
Despite the DMK’s longstanding opposition to Hindi imposition and campaigns against it during normal times, it has now expressed support for Hindi in Parliament. This shift is starkly different from the theatrical gestures made by Udhaya Nidhi Stalin, Kanimozhi, MK Stalin, and others two years ago when they wore T-shirts declaring “Hindi Theriyadhu Poda” (I don’t know Hindi). Stalin and TR Baalu faced rebuke at an I.N.D.I.A bloc meeting in Delhi, where Nitish Kumar refused to have his speech translated into English, urging them to learn Hindi instead.
Now senior most minister, who had served in DMK patriarch late M Karunanidhi’s cabinet, said “We chose candidates who know Hindi for Lok sabha polls. They should know Hindi and English to speak or to understand Parliament proceedings.
Otherwise, they will be blinking on seeing the ceiling or sides. If you do not these two languages you should come to the state assembly. you can speak whatever you want. it is not the situation in Lok Sabha. Tamizhachi Thangapandian, who was a professor, spoke in Parliament, and the entire was shocked to see her proficiency (!). They were spellbound and mesmerised by her flow of language”. She is pitted against BJP’s Tamiz Isai Soundararajan, who resigned her governorship of Telangana, to contest polls.
The BJP has been compiling information on Tamil Nadu government officials who allegedly show undue favouritism towards the ruling party, causing difficulties for the BJP and its allies. There have been numerous complaints alleging that the DMK, through its official channels, attempts to obstruct the campaigning efforts of the BJP and its allies.
One such incident occurred recently, resulting in the suspension of Geetha, a female member of an election flying squad, and the replacement of the entire team. This action was taken because they purportedly failed to search the motorcade of DMK MP A Raja, who is seeking reelection from Nilgiris, on March 25. The decision was made by the Chief Electoral Officer after reviewing video footage and media reports. While there have been other similar incidents, Geetha was the sole individual suspended in this case.
In another episode, the DMK shared a video depicting a woman performing a ritual called Aarathi while Annamalai allegedly distributed cash as a token of appreciation. However, upon verification, it was revealed that the video was from last year when Annamalai visited her city during his “En Maan En Makkal” journey, and it had no relevance to the current election. The DMK’s attempt to portray this as bribery backfired. Although the district collector initially ordered police action without verifying the facts, it has since been dropped. Now, the police have been instructed to take action against the individual who filed the false complaint.
Due to fear of reprisals, many officials on election duty turn a blind eye to ministers, DMK leaders, and allies, failing to thoroughly inspect their vehicles, which are often alleged to contain multiple suitcases filled with money.
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