'Chennai has won me over': Modi holds mega roadshow, rakes up Katchatheevu again

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (April 9) took out a roadshow in Chennai's T Nagar locality, ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.

Later, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said the roadshow in the city would remain a part of his memory forever and that Chennai had won him over.

"Chennai has won me over! Today's roadshow in this dynamic city will remain a part of my memory forever. The blessings of the people give me strength to keep working hard in your service and to make our nation even more developed. The enthusiasm in Chennai also shows that Tamil Nadu is all set to support NDA in a big way," he tweeted.

"I assure my sisters and brothers of Chennai that our government will keep working for the welfare of this vibrant city. Over the last few years, I have come here very often to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for key projects which will boost 'Ease of Living.' At the root of this is connectivity."

Government's achievements

He also said that recently, the new integrated terminal building at Chennai airport was inaugurated. In the coming times, railway stations here including Egmore Station are going to be redeveloped.

He said, thanks to Vande Bharat express, connectivity between Chennai-Coimbatore and Chennai-Mysuru had also been enhanced.

"The Chennai Metro network is being expanded, thus helping the professionals working in the city. Key road projects like the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway and the expansion of other existing road projects will improve commerce and connectivity," he added.

Slams DMK

Hitting out at the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, he said the party had done nothing much for the city. "For years, DMK took votes from the people of Chennai but did nothing much for the city. DMK is busy furthering corruption and family rule. Their MPs are not accessible to the people, particularly whenever the times are challenging," Modi said.

"The recent public information on the Katchatheevu surrender point to how Congress and DMK were complicit in harming our strategic interests and the well-being of our fishermen and fisherwomen. No wonder this time, Chennai is all set to reject DMK and Congress," he wrote.

In another post, he said, "Our government accords topmost respect to Tamil culture. I felt so proud that I got an opportunity to speak a few words in Tamil language at the UN! We will continue to make Tamil culture and language popular at the world stage. Two years ago, the Central Institute of Classical Tamil was inaugurated which will further popularise aspects of Tamil culture."

Development activities

About the housing sector, Modi said remarkable work is underway. "Lakhs of houses have been built across Tamil Nadu under PM-Awas Yojana. Sometime ago, many houses built as a part of Light House Project were inaugurated thus giving wings to several aspirations." "Our Government is also working on projects like a Multi Modal Logistics Park and a Discovery Campus at IIT-Madras, which will boost business as well as innovation," he added.

Noting that the NDA Government will keep working in sectors like roads, ports, urban transportation, culture, commerce, connectivity, energy and more, the Prime Minister said, "At the same time, we will address key issues in Chennai like strengthening the disaster management apparatus, which makes us better prepared when calamities like floods strike. We will also keep supporting the MSME sector, a vital pillar of economic growth."

Wooing Tamil Nadu

The Prime Minister was joined by BJP state president K Annamalai and the saffron party's candidates for South Chennai, Central Chennai and North Chennai parliamentary segments during the roadshow.

Tamilisai Soundararajan has been fielded from South Chennai while Vinoj P Selvam and RC Paul Kanagaraj are the party's picks from Central Chennai and North Chennai, respectively.

Dressed in a white shirt and the traditional veshti (dhoti) and angavastram (shawl), the PM stood atop a decorated car and waved at his supporters who lined up on either side of the road. Modi also carried a small cutout of the BJP's symbol, the Lotus.

The 2 km roadshow – from Panagal Park to Teynampet in Chennai – took about 45 minutes and the PM was seen constantly smiling and waving at the people, many of whom raised "Bharat Mata ki jai" and "Modi, Modi" slogans to greet the leader. Many were seen carrying placards in support of the BJP and the PM.

Eager supporters also showered flower petals on the Prime Minister.

Cultural events, including a nadaswaram (a wind instrument) recital was staged.

Wednesday schedule

After an overnight stay here, Modi will address election rallies in Vellore, near Chennai, and Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district on Wednesday in support of NDA candidates, including Annamalai, Union Minister L Murugan and Soumya Anbumani of ally PMK.

Elections to 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, besides the lone Puducherry segment, will be held on April 19 and the saffron party is hopeful of putting up a better electoral show, although it has no members in the outgoing House.

BJP is leading a non-DMK, non-AIADMK bloc and its constituents include the Pattali Makkal Katchi and former union minister GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress-Moopanar.

The PM, according to Annamalai earlier, is likely to visit the state again after April 12 for electioneering.

With agency inputs