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Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded India's unity amid the West Asia war, stating the country has successfully kept the situation under control during difficult times. However, he criticised the Congress party, accusing them of fear-mongering and spreading lies about the war's impact on India.
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00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:03I'm Akshita Nandakopal. We're all set to get you all the latest updates coming in from pole-bound Tamil Nadu.
00:08I'm joining you live right now from Tirupara Kundram, which you know is in the heart of a controversy.
00:13We'll get you that ground reporter in a bit and the latest updates coming in from Tamil Nadu.
00:17But first, a news break that's coming in on the Prime Minister's statement of the West Asia war and the
00:22impact in India.
00:23Let's cut across to that news break first.
00:30Prime Minister Modi in a statement has lauded India's unity, saying that our strength has always been in the fact
00:35that we stand together in difficult times.
00:38Prime Minister Modi has sent across exactly that message, saying even amid a crisis, India has successfully kept the situation
00:44under control.
00:45But here's where it turns political.
00:47You've got Prime Minister Modi also lashing out to the Congress, saying they've been fear-mongering,
00:51they've been spreading lies on the impact on India of the West Asia war,
00:55saying some of our political parties, particularly the Congress, has refused to desist from their divisive ways
01:02and remain intent on fragmenting the nation.
01:05The Congress is spreading fear and rumours at a time when the country is in need of restraint.
01:10The Congress is actively engaged in inciting the public.
01:14This is the statement that's come in from the Prime Minister, where he's lashed out to the opposition,
01:18accusing them of spreading fear and panic at a time when India, as he says, remains united.
01:24So no doubt this is going to take a political turn as well.
01:28We're going to track the reactions that come in on this.
01:30But the Prime Minister not just lauding India, saying that India stood together at such a difficult time through the
01:37crisis,
01:37but also questioning why the opposition is politicising this war and its impact.
01:50Now, let's get to the latest updates coming in now from Tamil Nadu.
01:54Today, as we come down to the elections, we're weeks away from polling day in Tamil Nadu.
01:58And guess what?
01:59Several political parties are struggling to announce a candidate list, particularly the BJP and the Congress,
02:06who every single day have been pushing it by another 24 hours.
02:09Just to put the spotlight on the BJP right now, with Tiyush Goel, who is the Tamil Nadu in charge
02:14in Chennai,
02:15it was expected there would be a formal announcement today that the BJP would announce a candidate list.
02:20But it looks like last-minute hiccups and some sort of indecisiveness, infighting maybe,
02:26has led to a further delay in a decision being made by the BJP,
02:30which means essentially the next 24 hours, 48 hours, who knows?
02:34It could take longer than that as well for the BJP to come out with their list.
02:38It was supposed to be released today.
02:39The timing we had received was about between 4 to 6,
02:42but the confirmation is coming from Tiyush Goel that that list is not coming out today
02:45and that it's been further pushed.
02:47Let's get you some of the highlights of what he had to say.
02:49The strong NDA alliance has started the campaign to dislodge, to defeat and put an end to the corrupt DMK
03:06government in Tamil Nadu.
03:07So, the DMK Congress combined is responsible for high level of corruption,
03:22for very bad law and order situation,
03:29and for betraying the farmers, the fishermen, the youth of Tamil Nadu, the women of Tamil Nadu.
03:41The people of Tamil Nadu want the good governance that Amma, Jai Lalitaji, had given to Tamil Nadu.
03:54The NDA alliance led by the party Palani Swami is going to sweep this election
04:05and bring back good governance and good welfare of the women and youth of Tamil Nadu.
04:14So, maybe in a couple of days, we will decide the candidates and announce.
04:20Yes, this election is between the DMK and Congress fight amongst each other.
04:27You saw how they fought.
04:29So, he's right. He's fighting against his own partners in Delhi.
04:33So, let me bring in Pramod Mahath to understand what's led to this delay,
04:37away from the political attacks there by Piyush Goel.
04:39Pramod, the spotlight is on the delay right now.
04:42Now, what are your sources really telling you what's happened?
04:46Because there is some information trickling in
04:48that the BJP is talking it out with the AIA-DMK for a seat swap.
04:52Is that actually the case?
04:55Well, it looks like, Achita, because for the day,
04:57the initial program was at Piyush Goel,
04:59was supposed to reach Chennai by 10.30 a.m.,
05:01then his flight was delayed.
05:02Then there was a program by which he was supposed to hold a meeting
05:04and a chart sheet regarding DMK was supposed to be delayed
05:07just like the way they did it in West Bengal.
05:09But even now, that plan has also been kind of like, you know, changed or altered.
05:13Now, Piyush Goel is going to have a core committee meeting in Chennai.
05:16This very clearly reflects how India today was the first to report
05:19about the BJP ecosystem not being happy with the constituencies
05:23that was provided to BJP by AIA-DMK,
05:25especially in Chennai.
05:26That was Harbour, Tinagar, Velacheri,
05:28and various locations as well, Singha, Nalur, near Coimbatore and such.
05:31And this, like, you know, even Annamalai going ahead
05:33and speaking on those matters,
05:34it looks like all that is reflecting right now,
05:36because when we ask Piyush Goyal what is going to happen to the candidate list,
05:39people, we are more concerned about it
05:41because yesterday the nomination has begun.
05:43Piyush Goyal claims that he is going to have a talk
05:45with the local leaders once again
05:46and it will be released in maximum of 48 hours, Akshita.
05:53All right, Pramod, thanks very much for those details.
05:5548 hours, we'll have to see.
05:57I'll also highlight here, it's not just the BJP,
05:58but the Congress that seems to be having similar issues,
06:01unable to make up their mind,
06:03unable to figure out who their candidates will be.
06:05But as far as the BJP is concerned,
06:07here's what we're picking up.
06:08They've got a couple of seats off the 27,
06:10a couple of those are in the Kovai belt.
06:13Avinashii, we're hearing, will be Union Minister El Mourgan,
06:15who will be contesting.
06:16A big question mark was over Coimbatore North.
06:19Our sources tell us that it will be Vanati Srinivasan
06:22and no, not Anna Malai.
06:24The other big question was about Nainar Nagendran.
06:26Someone who's contested for over 25 years from Tirunal Veli
06:30suddenly moved to the Sathur seat.
06:31What happened?
06:32Of course, that formal announcement is awaited,
06:34but it's more or less a given
06:35that he's going to be fighting from the Sathur seat.
06:37Now, here's where it gets interesting.
06:39Now, all along, it was assumed that Nainar Nagendran
06:42wanted a change of seat,
06:43but the indication he's given now
06:45is that the AI ATMK wanted Tirunal Veli
06:47and so he decided to essentially adjust
06:50and change his seat.
06:52Essentially, here,
06:53with all these information and details coming out,
06:56has the BJP compromised on their own interests
06:59as a result of being a part of this alliance?
07:01Listen in to the Tamil Nadu BJP president first.
07:32No, no.
07:34And we had to get that out of place.
07:39Let me bring in Apurva for more details on this.
07:45Apurva, what really is playing out within the BJP camp?
07:50Is there infighting that's playing out?
07:51Are there two factions that are essentially while fighting it out right now?
07:55One side saying that we have compromised with the AADMK and that's how it should be.
07:59and the others saying that what's happened, that the kind of seats that's been allocated to the BJP is simply
08:03unacceptable?
08:07Well, in fact, if you see there, there is definitely tensions within the BJP
08:11when it comes to the seat-sharing talks that have taken place with the AIADMK and the kind of seats
08:16that they've got.
08:17Several BJP cadders have been unhappy with the kind of seats that have been allotted to BJP.
08:22In fact, when you talk about just Chennai, you know, the BJP has got the coveted Mailapur seat
08:28and that will be Dr. Tamil Nadu State President, you know, who will be contesting from Mailapur.
08:37In fact, we saw AIADMK's Supremo, Hedapati K. Palani Swami, campaigning for her the first day of the campaign.
08:42So that was the BJP's belt, Mailapur, where, you know, EPS had campaigned.
08:46But it looks like BJP sources do tell us cadders are unhappy with the kind of seats that were given.
08:51When it came to just Chennai, there were several seats that the BJP was eyeing,
08:55technically such as, you know, Tinagar, Port, you know, Harbour and several other of these top areas
09:01where likely youth candidates of the BJP.
09:04When I'm talking about youth candidates, the likes of Arna Malai, the likes of Vinoj P. Selvam or even S
09:08.G. Surya.
09:09And that's where there are questions about factions.
09:11The names that Apoorva is mentioning here, Arna Malai, Vinoj Selvam, S.G. Surya on one side,
09:15then you have Nainar, Vanati, Srinivasan, Tamirisai, Saundur Rajan.
09:19It's divided between these two.
09:20We don't know whether that's playing out on the BJP.
09:22It's definitely playing out on social media.
09:24I bring in on this broadcast, Shekhar Iyer, senior journalist and Dr. Sumansi Raman, political analyst with us.
09:30First to you, Mr. Shekhar Iyer, what do you make of these delays?
09:33You know, it's not good messaging essentially, whether it's the BJP or the Congress.
09:37And I'll highlight the Congress who hasn't released their list.
09:39These two national parties haven't been able to get their act together in Tamil Nadu.
09:44Well, Akshita, as you said it in the beginning, the problem is of the same nature.
09:49And in both sides, there are personalities involved, candidates who want to contest, who are not being allowed to contest.
09:56And right now, what I gather is largely because an impression has gained that EPS ensured that some of the
10:04good seats in which, over which Annamalai and some very senior leaders were interested, were not given to the BJP.
10:13And somehow the BJP leadership had compromised on that just to keep EPS in good humor.
10:21That has obviously created a lot of, as you said, social media buzz.
10:27A buzz and particularly the Annamalai supporters are very upset that some of the constituencies which were considered to be
10:36very good for him have not even...
10:39Vanity Sridhivasan has not been very happy with the fact that our Coimbatur South was given to AIA-DMK and
10:45AIA-DMK quickly named the candidate and she may have to try from another place.
10:50Now, the whole problem is, I think right now the central leadership, particularly Amit Shah, has realized that not allowing
10:58Annamalai to contest or creating a situation whereby, you know, Annamalai says, I would rather stay out and campaign for
11:05the rest, does not go...
11:07No, but Dr. Sumansi Raman, you know, the question that constantly comes up is, should the BJP really be centric
11:12to one leader, to one personality like Annamalai?
11:15I will tell you what I've seen on the ground. You know, in the last few days that I've been
11:18in Tamil Nadu, to the people I speak and ask them about change, about leaders, they do take the name
11:24of Annamalai when BJP is brought up.
11:26It's almost as if he is now singularly the face of the Tamil Nadu BJP. So is the BJP making
11:31a mistake by, you know, not going ahead and placating him, ensuring he's not contesting, etc. Should they be going
11:37the extra mile for that?
11:39But Akshita, who told you that BJP High Command is preventing Annamalai from contesting? I don't know that for a
11:47fact. Now, let's look at...
11:48No, he's clearly miffed. Sumansi Raman, it's very clear he's miffed. It's obvious he's upset and that's why he's not
11:54contesting.
11:55Akshita, please. First of all, he wants the NDA alliance to lose badly. Otherwise, his political relevance goes. He did
12:02not want an alliance with the ADMK.
12:04The BJP High Command went ahead with it. So therefore, he is now desperate that the alliance should lose because
12:10if they win, then it makes him irrelevant.
12:13Second, very importantly, both Vanity Srinivasan and Naina Nagyendra asked for change of constituency. It is not that Vanity Srinivasan
12:23is being forced to move from Coimbatore South to Coimbatore North.
12:26In fact, Amman Arjunant was a sitting MLA for Coimbatore North. He is now coming back to Coimbatore South, which
12:34he won in 2016. So let's be very clear. These are leaders who have asked for changes of seats.
12:41It is not that it has been shoved down BJP's throat by the AIADMK. Third, the point about one additional
12:51city seat, yes, that is well taken because either Velacheri was expected to go to...
13:02Tinagar was never in the picture because Tinagar was lost by the AIADMK by 130 votes last time and this
13:08time Mr. Satya is expected to win the seat. So it was about one additional seat in the city.
13:14Other than that, I don't understand which are the seats that the BJP wanted, which they could have won hands
13:22down, which have not been given. One city seat, yes, I agree. But beyond that...
13:27Okay, let me now... Please give me a list of... So let me come in now. Sumansi Raman, first on
13:32the point that you made...
13:33On the point that you made on Annamalaya, I think sure everyone knows that he was against this alliance, but
13:39to go so far as to suggest that he wants them to lose, I don't know whether that would be
13:42exaggerating the situation.
13:44Again, that's why I refer to the BJP going the extra mile to placate him. Sumansi Raman, that's why I
13:50said that the BJP maybe should go the extra mile. I'm asking should they go the extra mile to placate
13:54him?
13:54Because clearly he's upset. No, not at all. Not at all. One minute, Takshita, please answer. The man is appointed
14:00as a party in charge for six constituencies.
14:04He holds a public press conference and says I am resigning from that post because I have to look after
14:10my father who is unwell. Why would he need to do that in public?
14:13He could tell the high command, look, my father is unwell. I will be shuttling in and out of this
14:18place. Please give me somebody to help me or something.
14:21Very publicly, I will not be involved in the campaign. I mean, I will not be involved in these constituencies
14:26because I can't. I mean, he is clearly out to publicly dissociate himself from this campaign.
14:34Let's be very clear. Let's not even kid ourselves. And therefore, I would not be surprised if the BJP High
14:41Command does not indul...
14:42They have been indulging him beyond a point. I mean, I'm surprised that the BJP High Command is choosing to
14:49humor this man to this extent.
14:51He cannot take the BJP across the line whether he contests or not. It is the strength of the alliance
14:57which will prevail.
15:02Okay, so you're maintaining that currently the way the BJP is calculatedly taking their steps makes sense.
15:08Now, we will wait to see in the next 24 to 48 hours. I don't know. Maybe 48 hours, maybe
15:12beyond that.
15:14Though I hardly, highly doubt that that will happen. But we'll have to wait to see when the BJP comes
15:18up with the alliance.
15:19Because clearly, whether we'd like to say it or not, there are hiccups. There are issues.
15:23And the BJP is having to iron out those issues, which is what's led to their delays.
15:27Suman Si Raman, Shekhar Ayer, thank you. I'm sorry. I've run out of time.
15:31But thank you. We'll have this discussion in the coming days as well.
15:34I'll just cut across to a news break that's coming in right now.
15:45Okay, so BJP will in all likelihood be filing his nomination from Trichy East, the second seat that is contesting
15:51in two days from now on 2nd April.
15:54Permissions have been sought. BJP will be looking at holding a mega campaign in Trichy East and then filing his
16:01nomination papers.
16:02If Chennai is anything to go by and what played out yesterday, it is going to be a massive show
16:09of strength.
16:09Remember, so much so that for Vijay in Chennai, the last leg of his rally had to be called off
16:15because of the crowds that had gathered.
16:16I'll bring in Anagar Kesha for more details on this. Anagar, Vijay planning a big show of strength in the
16:22constituency that he will be fighting from the 2nd one, Trichy East.
16:25Have permissions been granted for it?
16:31In fact, he has sought permission from the Trichy administration.
16:34We are yet to officially get information from Trichy's government as to whether permission has been given for TVK's Vijay.
16:41Of course, even if the permission is given, there would be a cap on the number of people that can
16:46attend.
16:46Similar restrictions would be imposed for Trichy East as well.
16:49It's going to be on April 2nd when Vijay will be filing his nomination.
16:54In fact, his opponent from the DMK, Mr. Inigo has been winning from Trichy East for quite a while now.
17:01He is also seen as a very strong Christian vote bank from DMK.
17:06And given the fact that Trichy East also has a significant number of minorities, it is indeed going to be
17:12a tough battle between Inigo and Vijay.
17:15Remember, Inigo has been an incumbent MLA from Trichy East for a long time.
17:19Interesting one. In one of the many seats, one of the many seats, Anagar, that we will be tracking.
17:24Like we have highlighted, Vijay is contesting from two seats, Perambur and Trichy East.
17:28He has filed his nomination papers in Perambur.
17:30In all likelihood, the day after April 2nd is when he will be filing his nomination in Trichy East as
17:36well.
17:36So, we will track those updates. Thanks, Anagar, for joining us.
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