The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounted a big campaign to make inroads into the southern state of Tamil Nadu in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in a bid to make up for some of the ground it is expected to lose in the northern states due to anti-incumbency.
Although that has not translated into victories for BJP in any constituency, its vote share has increased to 11.24 percent in the state.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a 3.58 percent vote share in Tamil Nadu, but failed to win any seats. It had garnered 5.59 percent of the votes polled in the state in the 2014 general elections when it had won the Kanniyakumari seat.
Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections have always been a battle between the DMK and AIADMK. However, the BJP has been trying to emerge as the third force in Tamil Nadu over the last few years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made nearly a dozen visits to the state during the election, with roadshows in Chennai on the top of his agenda.
The BJP contested elections in 23 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats of Tamil Nadu, while its allies are fighting in the remaining constituencies.
The BJP formed alliances with smaller regional parties in Tamil Nadu like Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK).
Of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the NDA was seen to be a significant player in at least 10 constituencies — including Coimbatore, Kanniyakumari, Theni, and Nilgiris.
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