Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has publicly accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) of employing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a political 'ghost' to preserve their dominant position in Tamil Nadu. Vembu, in a detailed post on X, stated that both regional parties have built their political narratives around demonizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actively working to keep the BJP out of the state.
'Modi is Their Favourite Ghost'
Vembu used a Tamil phrase, 'பூச்சாண்டி காட்டுதல்' (poochandi kaattuthal), which refers to invoking a ghost story to scare children, to describe the anti-BJP rhetoric. He explicitly wrote, "Modi is their favorite பூச்சாண்டி." According to Vembu, the DMK made "attack Modi" their primary political platform, and he suggested the AIADMK, which he termed "EdappadiDMK," would have adopted a similar strategy if circumstances allowed.
Challenging the 'Cozy Duopoly'
The tech entrepreneur argued that when these parties express a desire to "keep the BJP out of Tamil Nadu," they are, in essence, stating, "we don't want competition for our cozy duopoly." He contrasted this with states like Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, where the BJP has successfully allied with regional parties, noting that these regions are "doing fine" and "making excellent progress." Vembu implied that the key difference lay in whether the BJP formed alliances with these same parties that otherwise seek to suppress them in Tamil Nadu.
BJP's Performance and Future Strategy
Vembu's remarks follow the BJP's recent performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the party secured only one seat despite contesting 27 in alliance with the AIADMK. The BJP's statewide vote share reportedly dropped to around 3%, a significant decrease from its double-digit support in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Vembu also voiced support for former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, commending him for attempting to build a "genuine political movement" and inviting youth into active politics. He suggested that Annamalai needed "a lot more time" to see his efforts bear fruit.
Grassroots Building and Personal Stance
Looking ahead, Vembu advised the BJP to concentrate on nurturing "good youthful passionate leadership," building the party organically from the grassroots, and avoiding alliances with parties that claim "TN is different." He emphasized, "TN is Bharat. We have to fight this subterranean separatism." Despite his strong political views, Vembu clarified that he would not enter active politics himself, stating, "I am neck deep in tech, and Bharat needs deep tech." He affirmed his right to free speech but reiterated his commitment to his work in technology rather than direct political involvement.