Madurai, April 6 – Senior BJP leaders, including Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra and Bhajan Lal Sharma of Rajasthan, and Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, G Kishan Reddy, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, launched a scathing campaign against the ruling DMK on Monday, the last day for filing nominations in the April 23 Tamil Nadu elections. They asserted that a change in government was inevitable, as the people were determined to remove the "corrupt, anti-people, and dynasty-led" regime.
Fadnavis and Sharma, along with Union Ministers, criticized the DMK's economic policies and its opposition to the traditional Karthigai deepam lighting ceremony on Tirupparankundram hill. They also alleged that the DMK was responsible for the deterioration of law and order in the state.
Bhajan Lal Sharma, accompanying Vanathi Srinivasan during the nomination filing in Coimbatore North, stated that the people of Tamil Nadu wanted the NDA government due to the perceived corruption and dissatisfaction with the current administration.
"You all know how corruption is prevalent in Tamil Nadu. People want development in Tamil Nadu, and they also want it to happen in the country," Sharma told reporters.
In Madurai, Fadnavis said that the NDA was set to gain a significant victory in Tamil Nadu, as the DMK, with its alleged corruption and opposition to the state's traditions, was facing strong opposition.
He expressed confidence that the NDA, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its allies, would form the government in the state.
"People have seen the misrule of the DMK. Almost 75% of the DMK's Cabinet has criminal charges, and they are deeply involved in corruption. The state is in a dire situation. Women, senior citizens, and children are not safe," Fadnavis told reporters in Madurai.
Over the past four years, the number of child abuse cases has doubled, drug menace has increased, and people have witnessed "connivance between the DMK and criminals," he added, criticizing the DMK.
Responding to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's criticism of Prime Minister Modi's "double engine" government remark, Fadnavis stated, "People will respond to the DMK by voting for the NDA."
According to him, the people of Tamil Nadu were burdened with a debt exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore, with the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 33%, leading to a "debt trap." "This is the misrule of the DMK government," he added.
Fadnavis also addressed the DMK's opposition to the three-language policy, stating, "We are one people, one nation, and we should be proud of our language, while also respecting the languages of other countries."
Regarding the Karthigai deepam controversy, the Maharashtra CM said that the BJP supports Tamil Nadu's traditions and accuses the DMK of using the tradition for political gain.
"This tradition has been in place for a long time and did not start after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. Why does the DMK want to stop it? They are doing it for political gain, and the people will show them this in the election results," Fadnavis said.
He accompanied BJP candidate Rama Srinivasan during the filing of nomination papers for Madurai South.
After visiting the Meenakshi Amman Temple, Fadnavis said, "I have visited the sacred Meenakshi Amman Temple and taken blessings of Mata Meenakshi and Bhagwan Shivji. I have prayed that Tamil Nadu sees change and gets good governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have sought blessings that Tamil Nadu gets a BJP-AIADMK alliance government so that the aspirations of the people are fulfilled."
After filing his papers from Avanasi (SC) constituency in Tiruppur district, Union Minister L Murugan criticized the DMK government, accusing it of prioritizing "family rule and corruption" in the state.
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who accompanied Murugan, later told the media that the ensuing elections have energized the atmosphere in Tamil Nadu. People of the state want Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami's leadership in the state.
"People have decided to give a mandate in favour of the NDA and AIADMK. We are going to form the government here. Definitely, people of TN are against family rule, corruption, and anti-democratic decisions of the DMK. People want development, employment, and they want the double-engine government," Reddy said.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who accompanied former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan during the filing of her nomination from Mylapore, Chennai, later told reporters that the DMK government's focus was on "corruption – in government contracts, the TASMAC liquor scam, which I am told could be over Rs 1 lakh crore, or corruption in land."
In Sattur, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, accompanied by BJP state chief Nainar Nagenthran, filed their papers.