BJP eye winnable seats in TN for aspiring MLAs
Murugan may choose Central Chennai for debut attempt
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu BJP unit which is eyeing more seats in alliance with the AIADMK for the forthcoming 2021Assembly polls have started evaluating the constituencies that will be more conducive for the saffron party’s aspiring MLAs.
The BJP functionaries are also confident that it can wrest a sizable number of seats from its alliance partner AIADMK.
According to BJP insiders, the party is focussing in four districts including Coimbatore, Tirupur, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli.
The party will ask for more seats in these districts. An influential AIADMK minister in Kongu region had also told the BJP top brass that the AIADMK can effectively help the BJP to a win a couple of seats in Coimbatore-Tirupur belt.
State BJP president L Murugan is likely to try his political debut from Central Chennai eyeing the high profile Egmore (reserve) or an Assembly seat in Coimbatore region.
With Egmore constituency having around 30 per cent north Indian population filled with advocates practising in lower and high courts, the BJP functionaries are thinking over the probability of fielding the state president in Chennai, sources said.
“Murugan being a lawyer and the recent induction of popular advocate Paul Kanagaraj into BJP will help Murugan’s candidature in Egmore,” said a BJP functionary.
Central Chennai had always been a sort after seat for the BJP irrespective of the election results and there have been elected BJP councillors in Central Chennai, the insider noted.
“The BJP workers will explore the option of the winnable constituency for our candidates and there is every possibility for the state president to contest like the previous presidents. But whether he will contest in Chennai or will he choose another district is yet to be finalised. Further, these are matters that must be finalised by the party high command,” said a BJP leader.
It may be noted that the saffron party does not have a representation in the state Assembly and faced a rout in the 2016 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
In 2017 the BJP which contested in the high profile RK Nagar by-polls due to the demise of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa forfeited deposit registering fewer votes than Nota.