Tamil Nadu goes to polls next year, and the legacy of a king who ruled over 1000 years ago is now taking centre stage in the state’s politics. Both the opposition BJP and the ruling DMK are vying with each other to highlight the achievements of the Chola dynasty, which was known for its maritime conquests and its sway over much of Southeast Asia, particularly the exploits of Rajendra Chola 1, son of Raja Raja Chola. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent high-profile visit to Thanjavur, the ancient temple town that represents Chola culture and Tamil pride, where he announced a slew of infrastructure projects, was obviously aimed at wooing Tamil voters who have hitherto proved elusive for the BJP. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had made a concerted move to target the electorate in Tamil Nadu, aided by the then state BJP chief K Annamalai, but their efforts came a cropper with the saffron party failing to win any seats. This year, the PM’s visit to Thanjavur coincided with the Aadi Thiruvatharai festival that is observed as the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola 1 and has been declared a government festival by the ruling DMK. Modi attended the Aadi festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, where he also announced several infra projects for the region, such as a highway improvement plan, electrification of a rail line, and an irrigation scheme that would benefit the Thanjavur, Ariyalur, and Puddukottai districts. The PM spoke a smattering of Tamil and wore the traditional veshti and angavastram during his temple visit, perhaps to deflect from the oft-repeated charge that the BJP is a Hindi party and is out to snuff out the Dravidian identity.
Apart from the New Education Policy’s push for a three-language formula that was seen as a backdoor entry for Hindi in Tamil Nadu, the centre has also been accused of trying to bury the Keeladi discovery, which apparently unearthed India’s most ancient civilisation. The ASI, which comes under the central government, has refused to accept the lead archaeologist’s findings on Keeladi. This North Indian ‘imposition’ is the DMK’s pet theme as it faces polls next year, burdened by anti-incumbency and a resurgent AIADMK. Another X factor is the political outfit launched by actor Vijay. The superstar has been very critical of the DMK and has accused the party of surrendering to the BJP over claiming the Chola legacy. Not to be outdone by the central government, the state government has announced that the Cholagangam tank, a massive water body developed by the Cholas near Gangaikonda Cholapuram, will be redeveloped as a tourism destination. The DMK has also announced a Chola museum. The party’s emphasis on the Chola dynasty as a matter of regional importance and a symbol of Tamil culture and pride can be offset by PM Modi’s assertion that the Chola empire had drawn up the ancient roadmap for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The Dravidian parties have for long held the monopoly over projecting Tamil pride and cultural motivations. Now the BJP is trying to enter that sacred ground. It remains to be seen if the saffron party can make inroads into the Dravidian project.
