PM Modi a brand now, to impact polls in Tamil Nadu: Venkaiah Naidu at #SouthConclave17

He’s always at PM Modi’s side, speaking to the media frequently and explaining the vagaries of the NDA government at the Centre to a perplexed citizenry. M Venkaiah Naidu remains one the most articulate and media-savvy ministers in the Modi cabinet, and he set the agenda on the Day 2 of India Today #SouthConcalve17 in Chennai on January 10.

At the session titled “Cooperate and Compete: The Federal Mantra”, Naidu dispelled a number of myths that have spread since the NDA government assumed power, battling allegations of centralisation of decision-making process and draining the states of their rightful power.

On Tamil Nadu

Starting off with his links to Tamil Nadu, his home state, and the bond he shared with late CM Jayalalithaa, Naidu said his ties to Tamil Nadu are personal and still intact, but his work isn’t there.

“I have nothing to do with Tamil Nadu government. I am a friend of Tamil Nadu state, and its government”, he said.

Naidu even said that PM Modi has extended his full cooperation with the state government of Tamil Nadu, and its present CM O Panneerselvam. “The Centre is always ready to help the Tamil Nadu government,” he said at the conclave.

On DMK-AIADMK rivalry

Despite being a part of the BJP, Naidu expressed his admiration for both the Dravidian parties ruling Tamil Nadu alternately. “Whether DMK or AIADMK, they have all worked for the development of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

It must be mentioned here that Day 1 of the conclave saw everyone talking of the “Tamil Nadu model of development”, particularly Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

Minister Naidu mostly agreed that Tamil Nadu is the most progressive state not just in South India, but perhaps in the entire country, particularly in development indices such as health, literacy, jobs, food security, sanitation, among other factors.

On BJP’s presence in the South, Northeast

He also said, “We must admit that DMK and AIADMK are the strongest parties in Tamil Nadu,” though admitting that “the BJP was considered a North Indian party earlier, but things are changing fast”.

He said that with the BJP forming governments in Assam, Kashmir and other previously unchartered territories, the political makeup of India is changing fast, and local realities are getting influenced.

He also admitted that “there is a political vacuum in Tamil Nadu and the BJP will come out strong in the next elections”. This must be seen in the context of PM Modi flying down to Chennai to attend Jayalalithaa’s funeral and blessing Sasikala Natarajan, the newly appointed general secretary of the AIADMK, in particularly well-circulated photograph.

On PM Modi

“PM Modi is a brand now. In the next election in Tamil Nadu, Modi will be a factor, he has entered people’s hearts”, minister Naidu said jubilantly. He added that Modi believes if the country has to progress, it must work together and strong decisions must be taken, and every state has to develop.

“Whenever you’ll touch anybody, there will be noise”, Naidu said on the spate of CBI raids conducted on opposition party leaders, particularly the AAP and TMC, which are at the forefront of the anti-demonetisation campaign.

On jallikattu

Even though veteran actor Kamal Haasan said that he would want jallikattu to stay as it’s part of his culture, and we should stop eating biriyani if we are afraid of a little blood, Venkaiah Naidu took the official line. “Supreme Court has given its verdict on jallikattu. It’s a traditional art, but it’s best left for the courts to decide whether we should continue with it or not,” he said.

This is what Union Min @MVenkaiahNaidu said On #Jallikattu row at #SouthConclave17Watch LIVE https://t.co/BsBzLNFW4z pic.twitter.com/XUHevgJqML

— India Today (@IndiaToday) January 10, 2017

Also read: Why is Modi so in love with NRIs?