Tamil Nadu BJP opens a filter-free intake valve, ‘criminals’ get sucked in

Politics, they say, is the last refuge of scoundrels. The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP seems hell-bent on proving this adage true as it goes on an induction spree, enrolling even people with dubious backgrounds.

BJP’s limited presence in the state means the party is going all out to woo political heavyweights from other parties such as DMK in an effort to gain some foothold before the 2021 assembly elections.

While DMK leaders such as V.P. Duraisamy shifted loyalties to the BJP due to discontent within the party, some others like S. Jagathrakshakan and Senthil Balaji, are allegedly being targeted by the BJP using Enforcement Directorate (ED) as a tool to keep their corruption cases under wraps. Though Jagathrakshakan has clarified he won’t join the saffron party, Senthil Balaji has kept mum about his future plans.

Not just politicians with suspected backgrounds, the BJP seems open to welcome ‘criminals’ and ‘killers’ too.

In July, Salem-based Murali, who has a criminal record, joined the party and was given a vital post in the Salem East district youth wing of the BJP. Murali has more than 15 cases filed against him and has been arrested 5 times earlier under the Goondas Act.

On August 7, one Joshua joined the BJP in front of the party’s national council members. Joshua has three murder cases registered against him.

Two days later, Kalvettu Ravi, aka Ravi Shankar, a wanted criminal, joined the party at Kamalalayam, the headquarters of state BJP unit. He has more than 35 cases, including six murder cases, filed against him. Shankar has been arrested six times under the Goondas Act. Sathya aka Sathyaraj too joined the party. He has 10 cases against him and was detained under the Goondas Act twice.

According to media reports, some of these newcomers are residents of North Chennai and are placed in the ‘A plus’ category by the state police department. The most notorious ones are placed in the ‘A plus’ category and are alleged targets for police encounters.

Joint Commissioner of Police (North Chennai) V Balakrishnan told ‘The Federal’ that joining a political party is a matter of personal choice and it will, in no way, come in the way of police investigation.

In one particular instance, BJP went out of its way by financially supporting the family of a Coimbatore youth named Arun, who had allegedly defaced the statue of Periyar and was recently detained under the National Security Act. The state BJP IT wing raised Rs 50,000 as ‘Thiyaaga Nidhi’ (sacrifice fund) and handed over the money to his parents.

BJP state general secretary Karu Nagarajan argued that when most sitting MLAs have one or the other case filed against them, people with criminal track record joining BJP is not a big issue.

“A DMK MLA had fired bullets in a land dispute. In another case, a DMK functionary was seen attacking a beauty parlour employee. During lockdown, the police seized Rs 40 lakh worth liquor from a DMK leader. Some people joining our party may have cases against them, but they have not been proven guilty by the court yet,” Nagarajan said.

“People leaving other parties and joining us bring in their experience and knowledge. We will use their skills for our party’s growth. Similarly, a person like Kalvettu Ravi brings more than 500 followers with him. Our party needs youth power,” added Nagarajan.