Modi to kick-start NDA campaign in TN on March 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the AIADMK-BJP-PMK rainbow alliance’s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Vandalur near here on March 6 at a mega rally with leaders of all constituent parties in attendance.

The mega rally to be held at a sprawling ground owned by a private company on the outskirts of the city is being organised by the ruling AIADMK.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, leaders from the PMK, Puthiya Tamizhagam and other parties will share the dais with Modi. The prime minister has made three visits to Tamil Nadu — Madurai, Tiruppur and Kanniyakumari — since January, but this is the first time he will visit the state purely for an election campaign.

Sources said leaders of the DMDK would also be part of the rally if an agreement is reached between the AIADMK and the former by Tuesday. Wednesday’s public rally will give a head-start for the AIADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu since the rival DMK front is yet to conclude seat-sharing arrangement among its partners.

The AIADMK and BJP have stitched up a rainbow alliance to take on the formidable DMK-Congress front. Two parties have tied up with the PMK, an influential party among Vanniyars in northern Tamil Nadu, and the AIADMK hopes to keep up its good show in the western belt. It also hopes to cash in on the sentiments among Gounder community to which Palaniswami belongs – he is the first chief minister from the community.

Since this is the first public meeting of the alliance after the deal was inked, the ruling AIADMK is pulling all stops to ensure that the rally is a grand success. Before the meeting, Modi is likely to visit the famous Ekambaranathar and Kamakshi Temple in Kancheepuram, besides the Kanchi Kamakodi Mutt.

BJP sources said Modi’s Kancheepuram itinerary was yet to be confirmed. “The prime minister is keen on visiting Kancheepuram and offer prayers before the presiding deities of both temples before launching his campaign. But the programme is yet to be confirmed,” a BJP leader told DH.