Ahead of polls, PM Modi calls for regime change in Tamil Nadu

Vedaranyam: At historic Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, located about 364 km from Chennai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Rajaji's salt sathyagraha in the summer of 1930 and made an emotional appeal for a regime change in Tamil Nadu.

He called upon the people of Tamil Nadu to draw inspiration from the BJP-ruled states in the country and embrace development by giving a decisive mandate for his BJP for 24-hour power supply and clean drinking water for the people.

“I have come to ask you to vote for development. All over India, wherever BJP has formed governments, the focus has been only on one thing and that is development in terms of betterment of education, employment and welfare of poor,” Mr Modi said at a mammoth election rally here on Wednesday.

The PM, who appealed to voters to press the button on the Lotus symbol and make BJP victorious, asked if the people of Tamil Nadu got 24-hour power supply at their houses, shops, and school.

He said all the BJP-ruled states provided round the clock electricity and clean drinking water. “Don’t you deserve clean drinking water supply after so many years of independence? I have come to ask you to vote for development. All over India, wherever BJP has formed governments, the focus has been only on one thing and that is development in terms of betterment of education, employment and welfare of poor,” he said taking potshots at the Dravidian majors for not fulfilling these basic needs of the people.

Also taking potshots at the Congress, he said the upcoming Assembly election is about protecting Tamil Nadu from the trap of corruption. The BJP was dedicated to the well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu and wanted the state to prosper and add to India’s growth. So, the people of the state should come up in large numbers and elect a BJP Government for development and employment of youth, he urged.

As India gears up to celebrate 70 years of her Independence, Mr Modi said he is the first PM to visit Vedaranyam. He concluded his half hour speech by chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”