As the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections draw closer, the political battle in the state has intensified, with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launching a sharp attack on the BJP and alleging that the AIADMK leadership is being controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. His explosive remarks have added fresh heat to the campaign and set the stage for a fierce showdown ahead of polling day.
Addressing an election rally in Tamil Nadu on Monday, Rahul Gandhi claimed that those leading the AIADMK are functioning under the influence of the BJP’s top leadership. He alleged that the BJP’s political strategy is to control regional parties and install governments that function according to its directions.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Those who control AIADMK are fully controlled by Amit Shah and Narendra Modi.”
Drawing a comparison with Bihar politics, Gandhi alleged that the BJP had removed the Chief Minister there and replaced him with a person loyal to the party because the former leader was compromised. He claimed that the BJP intends to use the same model in Tamil Nadu by trying to influence the state government through indirect political control.
According to Rahul Gandhi, the BJP’s larger objective is not merely electoral victory but to establish a government in Tamil Nadu that follows instructions from the central leadership.
He said, “They want a government they can control, and a Chief Minister who does exactly what they say.”
At the same time, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the BJP would never be able to dominate the people of Tamil Nadu, saying the state’s political identity is too strong to be controlled from outside.
He added, “No matter what dream they have, they will never control the people and government of Tamil Nadu.”
The Congress leader’s remarks came at a crucial moment in the campaign, with alliances battling aggressively for public support before the April 23 assembly polls.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, BJP leader K Annamalai hit back strongly and said the people of Tamil Nadu are ready for political change and are moving toward the NDA alliance.
Annamalai claimed that public sentiment on the ground indicates strong dissatisfaction with the current DMK government, especially on issues such as law and order and urban infrastructure.
He said, “Tamil Nadu has decided to vote for change. The reading on the ground is very clear.”
The BJP leader alleged that the state government has failed to address worsening civic conditions and law enforcement issues, creating an opportunity for the NDA to gain power.
According to Annamalai, voters have begun to favour the NDA alliance, which includes the AIADMK, BJP, and PMK, and he expressed confidence that the alliance would emerge victorious after the votes are counted.
He said the coalition has “proven leadership” and insisted that after May 4, the NDA would form the government in Tamil Nadu.
With the election just days away, the contest in Tamil Nadu is shaping up as a direct political battle between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the NDA alliance led by AIADMK, with both camps aggressively attacking each other over leadership, governance, and political influence.
Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the BJP is attempting to control the AIADMK has added a major political narrative to the election campaign, while the BJP’s counter-attack that Tamil Nadu wants change has further polarised the contest.
