BJP eyes 2006 TN Assembly polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is working to use the Lok Sabha elections as a spade to deepen its roots in the Tamil Nadu. It seems to have set its eyes on the next Assembly elections, slated in May 2006.

The party seems to be working on a long-term plan to set its roots in the state in 10-12 years. This is definitely an ambitious target for a party that made its debut in the state in 1996, with just one Assembly seat from Padmanabapuram in the Kanyakumari district.

Ever since party's strength in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections has been on the rise, in a gradual manner though.

The party, with the exception of its maiden attempt, has always aligned with one of the two regional parties for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

H Raja, state general secretary and deputy leader for BJP in the Assembly, says, "Starting from the second week of May, the BJP cadets will start visiting every single hamlet in the state and spread the good word about the party."

In not-so-ambiguous terms, he says, "We are preparing to contest all the 234 seats in May 2006 Assembly elections."

Raja is not equally candid about the party's partnership plans with the AIADMK for the next Assembly elections nor does he commit to the number of seats the party will contest from.

Cho Ramaswamy, editor and publisher of a leading Tamil political weekly, Thuglak, agrees with Raja that it would definitely be in the interest of the state to have a national party in power.

He, however, adds this can be attempted only in the long-run, may be over the next two or three Assembly elections. "As a long term plan the BJP may attempt to capture power in the state and may even manage it," Ramaswamy adds.