Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a public address at Tamil Nadu’s Mettupalayam, took aim at the opposition bloc, INDIA, suggesting that their formation lacked confidence in India’s capabilities. He accused the ruling parties in the state, DMK and Congress, of harboring a single-minded agenda of retaining power through deceptive means. Modi underscored the successful rollout of India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, contrasting it with skepticism voiced by some members of the opposition. He criticized Congress for its failure to alleviate poverty despite being in power for decades, contrasting it with the NDA government’s achievement of lifting millions out of poverty.
Furthermore, Modi emphasized the BJP’s commitment to inclusivity by highlighting the appointment of a tribal woman as India’s President, a move he claimed faced opposition from the INDIA alliance. He also accused the Congress-DMK coalition of practicing discrimination during their rule, contrasting it with the BJP’s vision of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ (Collective Effort, Inclusive Growth).
Modi reiterated the government’s initiatives aimed at improving the lives of marginalized communities, such as providing housing, water, and electricity to millions, especially those from SC-ST and OBC backgrounds. Earlier in the day, Modi held a rally in Vellore, ahead of the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu where all 39 seats will vote in a single phase on April 19, with vote counting scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 polls, the DMK-led alliance secured an overwhelming victory, winning 38 out of the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu.