EPS as AIADMK's 'single leader' is bad news for BJP in Tamil Nadu,but it opens up opportunities, too

As Palaniswami gets full control of AIADMK, ousting party coordinator Panneerselvam, ThePrint's Political Editor D K Singh analyses why BJP must worry. Watch this episode of ThePrint #PoliticallyCorrect
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[chanakyabharat]

Always pleasure to listen to DK sir, content with no bias.

[sskk]

It was apparent to pretty much everyone that EPS would establish himself over OPS - OPS has little support within the party. It is also incorrect to assume that BJP wanted the AIADMK to be split - the BJP could have played games including encouraging OPS (which it did not) and encouraging Sashikala (who it actively opposes). For now the BJP wants an AIADMK that is strong enough to take on the DMK. Annamalai is a catalyst that will help grow the BJP - while the BJP is a long way from directly challenging the DMK, it is growing and will continue to grow. The AIADMK attracts voters that do not like the DMK but is hampered in the sense that it cannot completely break off from the Dravidian mythology. Plus while EPS is capable, he is nowhere near as charismatic as Annamalai. Witness the frontal attacks the DMK bigwigs have made on Annamalai - they have been silent on EPS - guess who the DMK is worried more about. EPS has the organization while BJP has the charismatic leader that can attack the fundamentals of the Dravidian mythology. The best scenario for the BJP is a relatively slow decline of the AIADMK that gives the BJP time to build an organization and eventually establish itself as a major force in Tamil Nadu. It is well on its way.

[chickenbuttermasala]

The chair fight between the two sides was the best 😂😂

[Vikramadithya]

OPS lost the day when... EPS was CM and OPS was not party coordinator.

[sundaresanramamoorthy]

For the past one year bjp has been playing as a principle opposition party, though they have not much strength in assembly comparing to aiadmk, and that proves that numbers don't speak but the intensity and fighting spirits do. By the way bjp has been growing leaps and bounds under the able leadership of Shri annamalai, tamilnadu bjp leader, though there is mute presence of aiadmk, and as such it won't matter for bjp whether aiadmk run by dual or mono leadership, nor it would do any harm to BJP's growth in tamilnadu and that is for sure, so don't dream for that.

[kiritpatel]

Congratulations Mr D.K Shingh excellent political journalism 👏 only request pl make video more frequently so we don't have to wait, can appreciate frequently

[DKSingh-wftn]

Hey, I must thank you all for correcting me about how the NTK is not a Dravidian party. Forgive me for being a naive North Indian analyst by birth. But I am really struggling to understand why there is so much fuss about the NTK being a Tamil nationalist party, and not a Dravidian party. I know Seeman has been trying hard to make this distinction. But why a Prabhakaran fan should be seen as more Tamil nationalist than any other Dravidian party. I may be wrong about looking at Dravidian parties linguistically and culturally, if not geographically in today's context. But, seriously, somebody needs to give me a tutorial on the difference between a so-called Tamil nationalist party and a Dravidian party. I must spend at least a year in Tamil Nadu to get rid of my naivete.

[vijayn]

Apart from being Cine stars, both MGR and JayaLalitha had long stint as party worker and party organizers. So both had strong party base. That's the reason they could succeed.

[francisjayasurya]

Fantastic DK Singh 😍for bringing a your review exactly matching the title of the episode. Apart from the Tongue twister of Tamil you brought the best in collection of the Tamilnadu Political scenario. It is very unique and TN politicians are different USP and Image trap. The Print and SG Team rocks 😍👏👏👏

[sainigagan]

BJP's fan club isn't so small as you would want it to be. The AIADMK has been feeding off it, remember? The point is that BJP can't control where the AIADMK goes especially after maharashtra since the parties are now wary.

[itsmepsnatarajan]

DK sir NTK is not a Dravidian party, its ideology is based on Tamil nationalism, where dravidam talks about all five Dravidian states down south.

[dillipanm]

EPS will go jail if he goes against BJP.

[rajhshah]

Show how less we know on Tamil Nadu 😔😔

[pichumanisankar]

For BJP, to have a foothold in TN, is a very very long haul.

[ViswanathanMahalingam]

Fact stated in 4:40 is wrong!
In the political arealna it was known to be started by a split off carder from DMK while MGR nearly joined the party (ADMK) that was started by that person.

[DR_]

That's your stupidity dream you wish BJP not grow in Tamilnadu. Earlier general public to keep away dmk voted for Admk as no option. But today when BJP stand alone they all will vote for BJP. This was proven in recent local body election with BJP raise in vote share contesting alone. If admk splits then both the admk leaders have no public pull and even those who kept voting for admk just bcoz of Jaya will start voting to BJP to keep dmk out. So BJP with alliance will make en route effectively in coming election. The public gathering is evident and dmk budging to BJP allegations is another evident that BJP is growing fast and has moved towards minorities too. So don't sit at one end and give imaginative stories thinking that viewers are not aware of Tamilnadu politics. Just wait for 2024 and 2026

[gowtham]

Described it very well. Really enjoyed it. But as I’m from TN crowd goes to bjp but it doesn’t turn vote when it comes to bjp vs admk. Many place admk lost in 500-700 vote diff cos of bjp minorities didn’t like that.

[prakashraghunathan]

Thankyou for the analysis DK Singh sir.Tnamil Nadu plays a very important state in national politics.

[truthseeking]

OPS is far from done. EPS is only powerful in the West, without OPS he'll end up losing at least 10% of the vote share.

[arulnid]

EPS removing OPS and OPS removing EPS from the party😂