People want Modi to contest in Tamil Nadu: State BJP chief

New Delhi: K Annamalai, the BJP chief of Tamil Nadu, said PM Modi blurred regional barriers to become an ‘insider’ even in the remoter parts of India.

Speaking on a podcast of news agency ANI, Annamalai touched on the rumoured possibility of PM Modi contesting in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

“Modi ji is seen as an insider. In fact, if you look at the Tamil news for the last month, somebody has started a rumour that Modi ji is fighting from Tamil Nadu for one of the seats,” Annamalai was quoted as saying.

Calling the rumour a talking point, he related a personal experience of his at a tea shop in Thoothukudi where someone asked him, “ Are you sure Modi Ji will contest?” in Tamil Nadu.

Giving away further, he said Ramanathapuram is rumoured to be the constituency of choice for the Prime Minister in the upcoming general elections.

Alongside dismissing it only a rumour, Annamalai expanded that people want PM Modi to contest in the state, which suggests he is seen not as an outsider even in any distant part of India.

PM Modi, he said, transcended regional identity, caste identity, Tamil identity and several others things that influence people while deciding on their choice candidate to vote.

Calling PM Modi a unifier, Annamalai added that there "is a wave" in favour of him in the state.

When Modi fought for the first time in 2014 Tamil Nadu BJP stood alone and there has since been a wave in favour of the BJP in the state.

Touching on the BJP’s alliance with AIADMK the firebrand leader said it is not an alliance of convenience but of respect.