The AIADMK, which formally announced the termination of its ties with the BJP on Monday, is banking on a host of factors that, it believes, would turn beneficial to it at the time of the Lok Sabha election, scheduled for April-May 2024.
Several leaders contend that a strong “anti-incumbency” factor is prevailing in Tamil Nadu against both the BJP-led government at the Centre and the DMK government in the State. Almost nine-and-a-half years of the BJP’s rule at the Centre and two-and-a-half years of the DMK government in the State have contributed to this, the AIADMK leaders believe. “Had we decided to go to the people along with the BJP, the entire lot of anti-BJP votes would have gone fully to the DMK and its partners. Now, we are confident of cornering all the anti-DMK votes. Now, the only task before us is to ensure that we bag all the pro-AIADMK votes,” explains a leader of the party from the southern region. A veteran from the northern districts is confident that at least a section of religious minorities would now support his party.
A couple of leaders of the party, hailing from the Cauvery and western belts, claim the AIADMK is expecting “desertions” from its arch-rival, the DMK. “Now, smaller parties that are with the DMK have a choice to make. Their bargaining power will go up,” they say, hoping that in the event of a migration, the strength of the AIADMK would increase.
