BJP ignoring South India at its own peril

For the ruling BJP at the Centre, South India continues to be an enigma, considering the manner in which it has repeatedly faced debacles despite its strenuous efforts to make electoral inroads in the three southern states. Whether it is Karnataka, Tamil Nadu or Kerala, the people in these states have repeatedly rejected the polarisation tactics of the BJP, which with the exception of Karnataka, has been able to win only in a few pockets or local body polls. This could also be because of the continual neglect of the South in budget after budget, presented by finance ministers of the BJP-led NDA government.

There has never been a year when leaders of the southern states have not cried hoarse over their pleas for a bigger share of allocations, developmental funds and projects falling on deaf ears. South India’s population which comprises Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, is around 270-280 million (27-28 crore), making up roughly 20% of India’s total population. The population has been dropping only because the administrations have been focussing on a better quality of life.

Contributions from the South have been spectacular to say the least. Karnataka contributes massively to the national exchequer in the form of taxes and IT export earnings which run into lakhs of crores of rupees.  But just because the southerners have constantly turned their back on the BJP, the Centre has ignored pleas for a bigger share of national resources. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah aptly summed up the plight of the South saying his state received an empty chombu while the Left in Kerala has decided to organise black flag protests against the total neglect of the state including the demand for an AIIMS.

Tamil Nadu, the state to which Ms Sitharaman belongs, has said they expected 50 per cent devolution of funds but has been allotted only 42 per cent and has expressed disappointment over the absence of budgetary initiatives for the state. Whether it is irrigation and drinking water projects including Mekedatu, the metro and suburban rail projects or the pressing needs of sugarcane and  pulses farmers in Karnataka, there has been no attempt  whatsoever by the Centre to lend a sympathetic ear.

Al this is happening to a state which ranks first in individual tax collection and contributes 8.7 percent to the national GDP. So if the BJP expects to do well in the coming Assembly polls in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it could be terribly off the mark. The discerning electorate of the South will not forget this discriminative attitude and if the saffronists feel that an occasional victory is indicative of a surge in its favour, it could be a misjudgement of the worst kind.