Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chose to wear a ‘veshti’ while campaigning for NDA candidates in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore.
Addressing a public rally in Vellore, PM Modi said, “…Our New Year is starting from 14th April. I wish you all a very very Happy New Year.”
PM Modi expressed hope that the New Year would usher in development for the people of Tamil Nadu.
Beginning his speech with a ‘vanakam’, PM Modi sought forgiveness for being unable to speak in the Tamil language.
“…At the United Nations, I try to speak in Tamil language so that the whole world knows that our Tamil is the oldest language in the world…” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi, who is a member of Parliament from Varanasi, said, “As MP of Kashi, I have come to invite you to make Kashi Tamil Sangam more glorious.”
“I was born in Gujarat and many families from Gujarat live here too. As a Gujarati, I invite you to the Saurashtra Tamil Sangam.”
PM Modi said that Tamil Nadu has played a significant role in India’s rise as a global power.
“Tamil Nadu has made a huge contribution in taking India forward in the space sector. It has also played a vital role in taking India forward in the manufacturing sector. I am confident that the defence corridor being built in Tamil Nadu will take this state to new heights,” PM Modi said.
With nine days left for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, PM PM Modi sought support for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates Soumya Anbumani from Pattali Makkal Kachi and AC Shanmugam from the New Justice Party. While Anbumani is contesting the election from the Dharmapuri constituency, while Shanmugam has been nominated from Vellore on the BJP symbol.
Voting for 39 parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be conducted in a single phase on April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. In 2019, the DMK-led alliance swept the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, winning 38 of the 39 seats.
BJP, which is contesting 23 seats in Tamil Nadu, will go the polls with nine other partners including the Pattali Makkal Katchi on 10 seats; Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) on 3 seats; former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader O Pannerselvam, who is contesting as an Independent; Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMU), headed by TTV Dhinakaran, on 2 seats; and the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi, Puthiya Needhi Katchi and Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam on one seat each. The latter three parties are contesting under BJP’s banner.
DMK, which is contesting 22 seats, leads an eight-party alliance that includes the Congress, which is contesting 9 seats; the CPI(M) and the CPI that are contesting 2 seats each; the Indian Muslim League, which has fielded a lone candidate; the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which is contesting 2 seats, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which has fielded a lone candidate; and the Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (KMDK), whose candidate will contest on the DMK symbol.
AIADMK, which is leading an alliance of four parties in the Lok Sabha, will contest 34 seats while its partners Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam will contest 5, the Puthiya Tamilagam and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) one each. However, the latter two parties will contest the polls on the AIADMK symbol.
(With ANI input)
