Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Behind PM Narendra Modi's frequent visits to south is BJP's target 370
prime minister called MGR an “incomparable leader" besides referring to Jayalalithaa’s governance as the hallmark of dedicated service to the people of the state Some analysts said the comments were PM Modi's appeal to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) vote bank while others said that it was his indirect reach-out to AIADMK, the opposition party in Tamil Nadu that was a BJP ally until September last year. On Wednesday, PM Modi called the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders ‘blind’, over a state minister’s ad for a new Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spaceport featuring an image of a rocket with the Chinese flag symbol.
The prime minister accused the leaders of DMK, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, of “belittling" India’s achievements — particularly its space programme and said the ad was “an insult to scientists". Analysts can differ, but one thing remains undisputed - Prime Minister Modi and the BJPs' efforts to make inroads in the south where the saffron party's presence, except in Karnataka, has not been up to the mark ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on February 27-28 as part of his ambitious southern push. This is PM Modi's third visit to the southern states this year.
The PM began the year with a tour of Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and Kerala on January 2-3, in which he inaugurated developmental projects worth thousands of crores. PM Modi also took up his 11-day tour to South India where he visited several temples associated with Ramayan in the run-up to the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22.
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