E-Paper
TN parties up against BJP over unconfirmed reports of splitting state’s west region into Kongu Nadu
A new controversy and unconfirmed reports have erupted in Tamil Nadu that the Union government plans to bifurcate the state’s western region, otherwise known as the Kongu region, into ‘Kongu Nadu’, HT has learnt
A new controversy and unconfirmed reports have erupted in Tamil Nadu that the Union government plans to bifurcate the state’s western region, otherwise known as the Kongu region, into ‘Kongu Nadu’, HT has learnt.
State BJP leaders have spoken in favour of such a move if that’s what the people desire. “Why are they (DMK) scared about this?” BJP legislative party leader, Nainar Nagendran, said in the presence of reporters on Sunday. He added that several places in Tamil Nadu end with a ‘Naadu’.
“But one must keep in mind Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were divided into two. If that (bifurcation) is the desire of the people of the state, then the government must fulfil it.” BJP state general secretary Karu Nagarajan said.
The speculation, that the Government of India would carve out this region into either a separate state or a Union territory, began after profiles of the new cabinet minister were released on Wednesday. The profile of Tamil Nadu’s outgoing BJP chief L Murugan, who was inducted into the Union cabinet, referred to him as hailing from ‘Kongu Naadu, Tamil Nadu’.
On June 10, a vernacular daily published a report that the Centre was planning a bifurcation as a befitting response to the DMK government referring to the Narendra Modi-led government as ‘Ondriya Arasu, in Tamil meaning Union government, and not the Central government. On the same day, BJP national president of the ‘Mahila Morcha’, Vanathi Srinivasan, on her Facebook page, quoted ancient Tamil texts to support the claim that Kongu was a separate geographical region. Srinivasan hails from the western region and is an elected MLA from Coimbatore which is part of the region.
The ruling DMK, and its allies, have dismissed the reports and spoken out against it. DMK MP Kanimozhi told reporters on Sunday, “Nobody can divide Tamil Nadu. No one needs to worry about such things, the state is now under a safe government.”
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) chief K S Alagiri termed the demand for a Kongu Nadu as a “figment of imagination”. Senior Congress leader Thirunavukuarasu said, “there is no chance for this. Though it has happened to other states there is no necessity for it here in Tamil Nadu for now.” Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader G Balakrishnan said that the BJP was attempting this for political gains. “This is dangerous,” he said. The people of Tamil Nadu will not allow this. Such actions by the BJP to enter Tamil Nadu through the backdoor will only cause severe repercussions for the party,” said Balakrishnan.
AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran called this a divisive measure along caste lines and urged chief minister MK Stalin to clear the issue.
The western regions have been the bastion of the AIADMK and two MLAs from BJP were elected from the region in the election results that were announced on May 2. The AIADMK-led alliance with the BJP won 33 of the total 50 seats. While the DMK combine swept other regions in the state, the AIADMK alliance registered its best performance in the Kongu region.
