As the multi-dimensional campaign juggernaut criss-crosses Tamil Nadu, one picture that emerges from the din and dust raised in its trail is of the Congress finishing way ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by not just in winning more Lok Sabha seats in the state but also by gaining popularity with Congress President Rahul Gandhi endearing himself to the people of the state as a potential prime ministerial candidate. The states goes to the polls on April 18.
Though the two major national parties are facing the electorate in grand alliances led by the two regional parties — the Congress is in an alliance with the Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the BJP is with the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) — the defining issue this election is of national importance. Should Prime Minister Narendra Modi return to power or not is the dominant question this election has raised in the minds of the people.
With a slew of anti-Modi tropes, circulated in the form of memes or videos or pamphlets or audios or jokes, driving home certain politically- or socially-significant ideas against the central government, even people in rural areas have gained a national perspective, coloured with regional aspirations.