BJP’s long-term strategy to breach Ramanathapuram fortress

Bharatiya Janata Party, a key constituent of the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, has once again chosen its favourite constituency in the South – Ramanathapuram – to test its water after bringing a slew of Union-government steered projects to the bordering district.  

The party, since 2006 Assembly elections, has consistently attempted to raise its voter support base in the district and has even managed to secure a significant vote share, making significant inroads into previously unreachable constituencies. 

The evident increase in votes has put the constituency in their top priority list, said local BJP leaders.  

Starting from 2006 Assembly elections when BJP candidate A. Sathiah secured 5,624 votes and stood in the fourth place, the BJP candidates fielded in the constituency managed to get 28,060 votes (D. Kannan) in 2011, 15,029 votes (D. Kannan) in 2016, and 60,763 votes (D. Kuppuramu) in 2021. 

The BJP, which has sought to increase its vote bank in the upcoming elections, has not shied away from contesting in general elections too.  

The then BJP candidate S. Thirunavukkarasar, currently in the Indian National Congress, who was fielded from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency in 2009, secured third place by getting 1,28,332 votes.  

In 2014, BJP candidate D. Kuppu Ramu, who managed to increase the votes to 1,71,082 stood in third place. Nainar Nagenthran, the current BJP State president, whom the NDA alliance fielded as its candidate representing BJP in the constituency in 2019, doubled the votes by securing 3,42,821 and rose to second position in the rank.  

However, following the BJP-AIADMK alliance split in the 2019 general elections, O. Panneerselvam, former Chief Minister and erstwhile AIADMK leader, faced the election as an independent candidate with the support of BJP.  

Falling just behind K. Navas Kani, current MP and the IUML candidate as part of the DMK alliance, Mr. Panneerselvam in the 2024 elections, secured 3,42,882 votes and held the second position. 

While seeking to consolidate its vote share in strongholds like Kanniyakumari and Coimbatore, the national party has also endeavoured to establish a presence in the Ramanathapuram district by leveraging its religious appeal and the narrative of a historical ‘North-South’ connect. 

By making two official visits to the district – in 2024 and 2025- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a slew of projects including the inauguration of the new Pamban bridge and also made a visit to the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram.  

Given his frequent visits to the district, there was even speculation that he would contest the 2024 general elections from there. Though that did not take shape, the party through events like Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 made consistent efforts to not lose its hold over the district. 

Ramanathapuram BJP District president K. Muraleedharan, while discussing the party’s regional growth, highlighted Mr. Modi’s personal intervention in 2014 to secure the release of five Rameswaram fishermen who had been facing the death penalty in a Sri Lankan court.  

“While the Rameswaram fishermen frequently bore the brunt of Indo-Sri Lankan maritime tensions, often falling victim to the Sri Lankan Navy’s gunfire, post-2014 the Indian government’s proactive diplomacy has ensured that no fisherman from the region has faced such lethal consequences,” he added.  

Along with this, developments like laying a highway from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi and earmarking Ramanathapuram as one of the aspirational districts, have also earned a positive reputation for the party, he noted.  

Although the official candidate was yet to be named at the time filing of report, Mr. Muraleedharan expressed confidence that any representative chosen by the party would be warmly received, given the sustained initiatives of the Union government to develop the district. 

Published – March 27, 2026 04:52 pm IST