BJP hits bull’s eye before Tamil Nadu elections

The BJP has hit the bull’s eye ahead of the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP has hit the bull’s eye ahead of the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Senior party leader and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan on Friday earned praise from staunch opponents for facilitating the return of Jallikattu, a popular bull taming sport, to the state just ahead of the Pongal festivities.

From DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, his son MK Stalin to the Congress unit chief EVKS Elangovan and CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan, politicians from the entire spectrum took care to thank Radhakrishnan for his efforts to get permission from the Centre for holding Jallikattu.

For the BJP, which is facing difficulty in netting allies to team up for the assembly elections due in May, the Modi government’s decision has earned it tremendous goodwill, but it may not be enough to get the regional parties on board, say political analysts.

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi personally thanked Radhakrishnan and said he was planning to sit on hunger strike on December 28, but had withdrawn it after an assurance by the central minister. “He has delivered on his promise,” Karunanidhi said, welcoming the decision. Stalin too thanked the central government for the decision.

TNCC president EVKS Elangovan said that he had no hesitation in praising the efforts of Radhakrishnan for persuading the central government to come out with an answer to the Jallikattu issue.

Tamil Nadu erupted in joy from Friday morning after news came in about the government’s decision to allow Jallikattu, with people bursting crackers to welcome the development.