BJP's misappropriation of MGR in 'Vetrivel Yatra' in TN irks AIADMK amid suspected rift

BJP's Tamil Nadu unit seems to have hit a roadblock in ir campaign for 2021 Assembly elections after alliance partners AIADMK pulled up Saffron Party for alleged appropriation of MG Ramachandran's legacy (MGR) in some of ir promotional videos.

Following stunt, Tamil Nadu BJP unit faced severe backlash from ruling AIADMK party for showing visuals of  party's founder and most influential leader MGR in promotional materials for Vetrivel Yatra. 

In a 3:24 minute-long promotional video posted by BJP Dharmapuri on YouTube, visuals of MGR can be seen. late actor/politician photo emerges and n transitions into PM Modi's (at 1:23) as song in background stresses on need for people of different colours to unite. In ar video, TN BJP President is seen walking in a farm alongside older foot of MGR doing same. 

TN BJP leaders persist with Yatra despite L Murugan's arrest

READ | BJP TN Chief Murugan Tries To Go On 'Vel Yatra' Defying Ban, Detained

Despite BJP assuring AIADMK that it was only to pay tribute to legendary figure and meant only as a way to hour  late AIADMK leader in ir videos, ruling party appears to be miffed with its alliance partner and it has gone on to express displeasure, stating that ideologies of both parties were completely different, as per reports.  

This incident comes amid already existing tension between AIADMK and BJP, as latter was denied permission by state government to take out Vetrivel Yatra. Though BJP had planned a month-long (v 6-Dec 6), state-wide 'Vel' or 'Vetrivel yatra', state government banned it, citing coronavirus pandemic. TN BJP President has been stopped short of taking yatra on multiple occasions by police while Opposition in state pressurised state government to t give permission to undertake yatra. 

READ | BJP Cadres Attempt To Go On 'Vetri Vel' Yatra Again, Detained

BJP cadres led by state president L Murugan on Monday again attempted to go on a 'Vetri vel yatra' from nearby Chengelpet, but were detained by police and released later. When saffron party workers, led by Murugan, tried to take out state-wide yatra, y were detained at a hall in suburban locality and released in evening. Murugan expressed confidence that his party would grow in strength to point of determining next government in Tamil Nadu.

READ | Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami Hails T Natarajan On His Selection To India's T20 Squad

This was  BJP's third attempt to go on a yatra to 'expose DMK' for backing aist group 'Karuppar Kootam' which denigrated Kanda Sashti Kavacham in praise of Lord Muruga. On vember 6, Murugan tried to begin yatra from Tiruttani, but was t allowed to do so. He attempted to start it from Tiruvottiyur here on Sunday but was arrested and left off later.

READ | Samyabrata Ray Goswami Writes To SC Secretary General After Dushyant Dave’s Letter

Tamil Nadu BJP faces backlash from alliance partner AIADMK for showing MGR as irs