CM Fadnavis woos Tamilians in Mumbai rally, hails Tamil literature and culture
In the run-up to BMC polls, the BJP seems to be leaving no stone unturned in reaching out to the non-Marathi voters in Mumbai.
In Short
- Tamil community has contributed to Mumbai's growth, its culture greatest in the world: Fadnavis.
- Tamil-speaking population is estimated to be around 4 per cent of the voters in Mumbai.
- BJP is the only party to have a Tamil MLA in Maharashtra Assembly in Captain R Tamil Selvan.
A few weeks ago, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis performed the Chhat Pooja at Juhu beach in Mumbai amid a huge gathering of Bihari population in the city. On Saturday, Fadnavis wooed the Tamil voters of Mumbai in a rally of Tamilians organised by the BJP. The rally was addressed by CM Fadnavis himself.
In the run-up to BMC polls, the BJP seems to be leaving no stone unturned in reaching out to the non-Marathi voters in Mumbai.
Praising the Tamil culture, Fadnavis started his speech in Tamil. "I have studied in a Tamil School till the 10th standard. Tamil culture and literature is one of the greatest in the world. The community has immensely contributed to the growth of the city", he said.
SIZEABLE TAMIL POPULATION LIVES IN MUMBAI SLUMS
A huge chunk of Tamil-speaking population in Mumbai stays in slums, especially in Dharavi, and hence the CM went on to announce that the Slum Rehabilitation Schemes (SRA) would soon be streamlined. Fadnavis also appealed to the community to strongly support PM Modi's drive against black money and corruption.
The Tamil-speaking population is largely spread across 6 corporation seats and is estimated to be around 4 per cent of the total voters. The BJP is the only party to have a Tamil MLA in Maharashtra Assembly in the form of Captain R Tamil Selvan from Mumbai's Sion-Koliwada constituency.
Addressing the rally, Selvan said, "The Tamil community is strongly in suppport of the BJP. BJP is the only party that can grant the long-pending demands of the community and that is why a large number of Tamilians are joining the party in Mumbai."
BJP, SENA ALLIANCE FOR BMC POLLS UNCERTAIN
The BJP and the Shiv Sena are yet undecided over forging an alliance for the BMC polls. In the absence of an alliance, the real fight will be between the two saffron allies. While the Shiv Sena is expected to largely bank on its core Marathi vote base, the BJP is trying to spread its reach among other communities. The chief minister has himself been taking the lead in wooing these communities. The BJP already enjoys a strong support base in the Gujarati community that has a sizeable population in Mumbai.
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After Uttar Bhartiya Sammelan and Chhat Pooja earlier this year, the Tamil Sammelan is seen as yet another attempt by the BJP to spread its wings in Mumbai ahead of the BMC polls.