Chennai: BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai's temper flared during an event in Karur district when he addressed Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, challenging him to assert "Get Out Modi" amidst ongoing tensions regarding the imposition of Hindi by the BJP government.
Stalin had warned that continued efforts to impose Hindi would elicit strong protests in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai's remarks underscored Stalin's political lineage, recalling the legacy of his grandfather and father, both former Chief Ministers.
Annamalai claimed that Modi, regarded as a global leader, deserved respect, contrasting their daily schedules as evidence of maturity, with Annamalai noting Modi's early waking habits compared to Stalin's late rise.
The exchange quickly moved to social media, leading to trending hashtags like #GetOutModi, where Annamalai's language drew mockery. Stalin responded by daring Annamalai to visit the DMK headquarters, amplifying the rivalry.
This clash comes in the wake of Stalin's vocal opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) and the perceived encroachment on Tamil rights. He warned of possible agitation reminiscent of the past “Go Back Modi” protests, emphasizing the deep emotional connection to the Tamil language and calling for the central government to stop politicizing education and release withheld funds.
A contentious exchange unfolded between Stalin and Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai over allegations of insufficient educational funding from the central government. Annamalai intensified the situation by challenging Stalin to publicly proclaim "Get Out Modi" if he had the courage, even threatening to go to the DMK headquarters to post notices. Stalin replied by denouncing the BJP's strategy, arguing that they were distracting from urgent financial issues in Tamil Nadu and not securing vital funds for the state.
During a public event, Annamalai upped the ante by daring the DMK to make the statement, vowing to counter with "Get Out Stalin" on Twitter, creating a dual campaign for public attention.
This confrontation swiftly escalated into a digital battle, with DMK supporters mobilizing on social media, leading to the hashtag #GetOutModi trending with over 56,000 tweets.
In response, BJP supporters rallied behind the hashtag #GetOutStalin, igniting an online clash between the two political factions as they competed for public backing and engagement. This rivalry not only illustrated the volatile political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu but also reflected the increasingly significant role of social media in contemporary political discourse.
