Sridhar Vembu, the outspoken founder and CEO of Zoho, has sharply criticized Tamil Nadu's leading political parties, the DMK and AIADMK, for what he describes as their strategy of using Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a political "ghost" to preserve their entrenched power. Vembu's comments, shared on social media, allege that both Dravidian parties have built their political narratives around opposing the BJP and keeping the national party out of the state.
According to Vembu, the consistent focus on "attacking Modi" by the DMK and the similar stance by the AIADMK (which he humorously dubbed "EdappadiDMK") serves to deflect from substantive issues and maintain a "cozy duopoly." He likened this political tactic to the Tamil phrase "பூச்சாண்டி காட்டுதல்," or invoking a ghost story to scare children, stating, "Modi is their favorite பூச்சாண்டி."
Vembu contended that when parties advocate for "keeping the BJP out of Tamil Nadu," they are, in essence, expressing a desire to eliminate competition for their own dominance. He cited examples from Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, where the BJP has formed alliances with regional parties, noting that these states are "doing fine" and "making excellent progress," suggesting that Tamil Nadu's political landscape is artificially constrained.
His remarks come in the wake of recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the BJP, despite forming an alliance, secured only one seat out of 234, with its statewide vote share dropping significantly compared to previous national elections. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party in this election, securing 108 seats, while the DMK won 59 and the AIADMK 47 seats.
Vembu also extended his support to former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, acknowledging his efforts to build a "genuine political movement" and engage the youth. Vembu advised the BJP to focus on nurturing youthful leadership, building grassroots support, and resisting alliances with parties that champion a "TN is different" narrative. He asserted, "TN is Bharat. We have to fight this subterranean separatism."
Despite his strong political opinions and advocacy for grassroots engagement, Vembu clarified that he has no intention of entering active politics himself. He stated he would continue to voice his views, exercising his right to free speech, but remains committed to his work in deep technology, believing it is crucial for Bharat's progress.