In Tamil Nadu, BJP Gets “Field Nirmala Sitharaman” Dare From AIADMK Leader

Chennai: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s Bharatiya Janata Party, like its rivals the INDIA bloc, is racing to conclude seat-share deals with allies in the southern state of Tamil Nadu – having this week wrapped accords in Assam, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh – ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Unlike the opposition grouping, however, the BJP has run into rather significant roadblocks in a state where it has traditionally struggled – one seat in four earlier Lok Sabha polls – and has now been thrown a challenge by its disgruntled former ally – the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Speaking at a party event Thursday, senior AIADMK leader KP Munusamy dared the BJP to field Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar – whose Tamil roots are often flagged by the party – “if they indeed believe their support has grown in the state”.