BJP Mobilizes 60 Telugu-Kannada Leaders to Target 81 Lakh Voters in Tamil Nadu
In a strategic electoral move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deployed approximately 60 senior functionaries from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka to canvass votes among the Telugu and Kannada speaking population in Tamil Nadu. These "Pravasi Karyakartas" have temporarily relocated to the state, aiming to connect with an estimated 81 lakh voters who speak these languages.
Prominent Leaders and Focus Areas
The team includes notable former lawmakers such as ex-MP Garikapati Mohan Rao, former minister Ketepalli Janardhan Reddy, and former MLA NVSS Prabhakar Reddy. They arrived in Chennai earlier this week and will concentrate their efforts on 75 constituencies across several districts, with a particular emphasis on:
- Chennai
- Coimbatore
- Madurai
- Theni
- Virudhunagar
BJP leaders highlight that Telugu-speaking communities, including the Naidus, Reddiar, Naicker, and Raju, are largely concentrated in these regions. Additionally, Kannada speakers are found in districts bordering Karnataka.
Countering Pro-Tamil Sentiment
This outreach initiative comes as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leverages Tamil pride in his electoral campaign. BJP officials assert that their strategy seeks to engage voters who feel less aligned with the strong pro-Tamil positioning of parties like the DMK and NTK. A senior party functionary explained, "These leaders are experienced in converting support into votes. Along with Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha cadres, they have begun field assessments and will take up door-to-door outreach." The campaign is centered on engaging voters in their mother tongue to foster a deeper connection.
Background and Demands
The deployment follows a March 6 meeting in Chennai, chaired by BJP national organization secretary B.L. Santhosh, which involved 150 leaders from southern states. During this meeting, the Tamil Nadu unit was instructed to focus on linguistic minority voters. Since then, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has held interactions with various groups, including the All India Telugu Federation.
Federation president CMK Reddy disclosed that a charter of demands was submitted, which includes the implementation of a September 2023 Supreme Court ruling to facilitate the teaching of Telugu alongside Tamil in all Tamil Nadu schools. Reddy pointed out, "The state government has set up an Urdu academy through a legislative Act for Muslims, who form 4%–5% of the population. However, despite earlier assurances, it has not established a Telugu academy."
This concerted effort underscores the BJP's aim to tap into linguistic minority votes by addressing specific community concerns and leveraging familiar faces to bridge cultural gaps in Tamil Nadu's diverse electoral landscape.
