Annamalai Kuppusamy, a young leader and Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu state president, launched a new era of politics, challenging the decades-old scheme of Dravidian politics of Tamil Nadu. He launched a historical Pada Yatra. Its full name is - “En Mann En Makkal — Prathamar Modiyin Tamil Muzhakkam”. This roughly translates to “My Soil, My People — Prime Minister Modi’s Tamil Slogan”. Yatra flagged-off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rameswaram. He said that Yatra is not only a political Yatra; it meant to spread the Tamil language and culture worldwide. BJP wants to establish the nationalism of PM Narendra Modi across Tamilnadu. And it is to free Tamilnadu of dynastic politics and corruption rule.
Dravidian politics are different:
The country's politics are one type; Tamilnadu’s Dravidian politics are different type. Star wards like CN Annadhurai, MG Ramachandran, J. Jayalalitha and MK Karunanidhi ruled this land. These are the leaders who have gained millions of fans who are ready to sacrifice their lives if necessary. There are two main reasons why Dravidian politics works so effectively. One is “Anti-Brahmanism ideology”. Second one is “Anti-Hindi Movement”.
Leaders are well used to survive politically by flaring up the two regionalist sentiments of anti-Brahminism and anti-Hindi. The two major regional parties that have dominated politics here for decades are the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK) and the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). If DMK comes to power in one election, AIADMK will come to power in another election. Congress, a national party, has lost its influence in this state ever since. There are dozens of local parties like MDMK, DMDK, TMC, MNM, etc. DMK and AIADMK parties are ruing this kingdom with the personal image and popularity of top leadership.
Injecting Hindutva in Anti-Hindi Belt:
Annamalai, who is not even 40 years old, was succeeded to stand in the state politics. He managed to get Tamils interested in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Still today, those who ran the politics and those who ruled the state are the leaders with celebrity status who enthralled lakhs of people with their movie glamour. Other side, there are movie actors like Kamal Haasan and Vijayakanth who could not get much success in politics despite their movie glamour. The name of superstar Rajinikanth, who is not brave enough to enter politics despite the demands of people and film fans, will always be shaken in Tamil politics. As an ex-cop Annamalai crossed all these barriers.
Annamalai is showing that he has the ability to break the so-called politics that revolves around personality worship and movie glamor. He runs politics in his own style. This is evident from the popularity Annamalai is getting in the first days of En Mann - En Makkal Yatra. This Yatra will run in five phases for about six months. 234 assembly and 39 parliament constituencies are covered in 1776 km long journey. The Yatra started with puja programs at Ramanadha Swamy Temple in Rameswaram, one of the Dwadasha Jyotirlingas in the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah blessed the young leader Annamalai and launched the En Mann - En Makkal Yatra. Not only the BJP leadership but also lakhs of fans of Tamil Nadu have high hopes for this event.
Modi’s Southern Seat of Choice for 2024 Polls:
It is being discussed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency in the next elections. Nawaz Ghani of the Indian Union Muslim League - IUML party won from here in the 2019 parliamentary elections. He got 4.70 lakh votes (44.29%). BJP candidate Nainar Nagendran got 3.43 lakh votes (32.31%). BJP lost with a margin of around 12% votes. This means that the BJP has a strong hold in this constituency. It is a fact that if Narendra Modi contests from this constituency in 2024 elections, BJP will get a good momentum in the south. A closer look at the launch of the Annamalai Yatra at Rameswaram suggests that the BJP is very far-sighted.
Knowing the Pain of Commoner:
Organizers are carrying throughout the foot march the "Pugar Petti" (Complaint Box) to collect complaints from common people. So, Yatra likely to continue to be a hundred times more effective than the hopes set by the party high command. Organizers are able to gather public support from the beginning. Rameswaram, Mudagalattur, Paramakudi, Kaumudi... in Ramanathapuram district, young people participate in the yatra in droves. They believe that a guardian came in the form of Annamalai to listen to their woes. Muslims and Christians also come to meet Annamalai. They are expressing their grievances. He is listening with interest. This tour is ushering in a new way of politics for Tamils who are fed up with family politics and corrupt rule.
Khaki to Khaddar – Journey of a People’s Leader:
It may seem like an exaggeration, but BJP workers feel that Annamalai has come into their midst as a true leader. Such is his craze indeed. Within a very short time of his entry into politics, he proved himself as a man of the people. He gained popularity like movie hero. Born in 1984 in Karur(Tamil Nadu), Annamalai studied engineering. After that he completed his MBA. He joined in IPS service in 2011. As Karnataka cadre IPS, he served as SP in Udupi and Chikamagalur. He resigned in 2019 while being the Deputy Commissioner of South Zone of Bangalore city. After leaving Khaki dress, he Joined politics in 2020. In the same year he took charge as the BJP Tamil Nadu State Vice President. In the 2021 assembly elections, he contested as a BJP candidate from Aravakurichi constituency and was defeated. He is currently the state president of BJP. Annamalai Kuppusamy's aggressiveness will serve well in strengthening the BJP not only in Tamilnadu but also in the South. En Mann - En Makkal Yatra paves new paths for “Navashaka” politics.