BJP gets three constituencies in AIADMK stronghold in Pudukottai district

The allocation of three seats for the BJP in Pudukottai district has come as a big surprise, even for the partymen.

This is for the first time that the national party, which is a key ally of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, has been given three seats in the district — Pudukottai, Gandharvakottai (SC), and Aranthangi constituencies — where the AIADMK has a strong presence and had won several times in the past.

Although it will not be a maiden contest for the BJP as it had contested in Pudukottai in 2011, Gandharvakottai in 2016 and Aranthangi in the 2011 election, it had then fought a lone battle and suffered crushing defeats and its candidates forfeited their deposit.

But this time around the national party would have to bank on the traditional support base and cadre strength of the AIADMK. The AIADMK won the Gandharvakottai seat in 2011 and 2016 but lost in 2021. 

The Aranthangi constituency, under which several coastal villages fall, had remained a AIADMK bastion with the party emerging triumphant six times since 1977.  In respect of Pudukottai Assembly constituency, the AIADMK won in 2001, 2006 and in the 2012 byelection.

Although the BJP is yet to announce the candidates, speculation is rife that the party’s Pudukottai west district president N. Ramachandran could be the choice for the seat.

BJP sources said the meeting organised by the party in Pudukottai in January this year in which Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a large turnout proved a turning point in displaying its strength.  Mr. Amit Shah patting Mr. Ramachandran on his back and having a word with him on the stage at the meeting enthused the cadre, the sources further said. The party had been taking up people’s related issues over the last one year and nominated ‘karyakarthas‘ at the field level in a bid to strengthen and expand its base in Pudukottai district, the sources said.