BJP pins hope on brand Modi for election win

Chennai: Though 2019 Lok Sabha election will boil down to the same old-fashioned Indian politics of alliance the BJP vs the Congress, in Tamil Nadu the state unit of the BJP feels that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements from Jallikattu, Cauvery to defence corridor, will ensure the alliance a big victory in the polls.

The BJP is also heavily banking on Mr Modi's achievements including the welfare initiatives to reach out to the people. In the rural areas the party hopes to cash in on the Centre's ambitious Mudra loan scheme in which Tamil Nadu tops the nation in extending `72,000 crore as loans during 2018-19. The state according to sources has received over 50 per cent of the `6.82-lakh crore Mudra loans disbursed till date. Strangely, a majority of North-East states and Union Territories have not received even 1 per cent of the total Mudra loans.

“It is not just jallikattu, Cauvery or defence corridor, the Prime Minister has given AIIMS project that got delayed for long. The railway projects and road infrastructure projects have ensured more development to Tamil Nadu than it ever did during the previous UPA regime,” a BJP senior said.

More than the projects, the government's gesture to farmers, unorganised sector and health scheme for the masses, would make Mr Modi occupy a place in the hearts of the people. In the south, it will be TN that would ensure more number of MPs for the combine, he adds.

Already the saffron party has launched a poll campaign on the micro blogging site. The latest initiative of the party is the launch of the NaMo warriors - enlisting a team of dedicated supporters to campaign for the Prime Minister.

Sources in the BJP said the party is waiting for the AIADMK to firm up the alliance with the G. K. Vasan's TMC, and to identify the constituencies so as to commence the poll work. “A team of Central Ministers would arrive to the State and address meetings at various place soon,” the BJP leader said.