Central leadership to decide alliance for 2026 elections: H. Raja

Madurai, Nov 15:  The BJP National Executive Committee member H. Raja, while addressing the press in Madurai, stated that the decision regarding the alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections would be taken by the central leadership. “I am in the position to implement those decisions,” he emphasized.

Criticism of Dravidian Model Raja sharply criticized the ruling Dravidian parties, accusing them of promoting violence and eroding social values. “Attacking doctors is what they call the Dravidian model. They have not spared even beauty parlors and parotta shops,” he alleged. He claimed that since the Dravidian parties came to power, there has been a decline in social morality and a surge in drug circulation in Tamil Nadu over the past three years.

Drawing a parallel with a recent incident in Kolkata where a woman doctor was murdered, Raja suggested that a similar law-and-order situation is unfolding in Tamil Nadu. “The government should take unbiased action against such incidents, or doctors might hesitate to treat serious patients in the future,” he warned.

BJP’s Concerns and Allegations Raja pointed out that BJP members in Madurai had lodged 15 complaints with the police, none of which had been acted upon. In contrast, cases have been filed against BJP members. “There has been no action against those who threatened to cut off my tongue, yet the police are eager to arrest an actress,” he said, without naming the actress.

On AIADMK’s Stance Responding to AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s claim that there is no alliance with the BJP, Raja said that interpreting this as dismissing the BJP was incorrect. “Did we queue up with applications to join their alliance? I will not comment on the alliance. I am in the position to implement decisions taken by the central leadership, which comprises 16 members,” he added.

On Temple Reforms Raja also criticized Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s statement that the Dravidian model facilitated the inclusion of all castes as temple priests. “It is misleading to credit this to the Dravidian model. Out of the 40,000 temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, only 3,000 follow the Agamic traditions. In the remaining 37,000 temples, priests from all communities already serve. The government’s claim is nothing but a deceptive move,” Raja stated.

On Law and Order in Tamil Nadu While addressing a gathering in Nilakottai, Dindigul district, Raja expressed concern over the rising incidents of attempted murders of doctors and other law-and-order issues in the state. He also reiterated the Supreme Court’s decision on cow slaughter, stating, “There is a nationwide ban on cow slaughter as per the Supreme Court’s ruling. No government in Tamil Nadu has passed any legislation permit