K Selvaperunthagai, President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), has emphatically stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will never gain ground in the state, asserting that Tamil Nadu rejects communal politics.
Selvaperunthagai’s comments come in response to a pre-poll analysis conducted by a leading Tamil TV channel, which projected the BJP to secure over 18 per cent of the vote share in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The analysis also suggested that the BJP could surpass the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to become the second-largest party in the state.
“Louts can never bloom in Tamil Nadu,” Selvaperunthagai declared, recalling previous attempts by BJP leaders to make inroads in the state. He referenced Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan’s optimistic assertions and Union Minister of State L Murugan’s ‘Vel Yatra’, both of which failed to resonate with Tamil Nadu voters. Selvaperunthagai dismissed Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai’s efforts as futile, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s commitment to social justice leaves no space for communal forces.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Chennai, Selvaperunthagai revealed that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu within two weeks. He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing seat-sharing discussions with their key ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), affirming that talks have progressed smoothly. Addressing speculations suggesting that Congress was seeking additional seats from the DMK, Selvaperunthagai reiterated the party’s rich legacy and dismissed any notion of ‘pleading’ for more seats.