Lord Murugan at the Heart of BJP’s Political Strategy in Tamil Nadu

The Murugan Devotees’ Conference held in Madurai on June 22, 2025, was no mere spiritual event—it marked a clear shift in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strategy to gain a stronger foothold in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. By invoking Lord Murugan, a deity deeply embedded in Tamil culture, language, and spiritual life, the BJP is pushing a new narrative that blends devotion with electoral intent.

Why Lord Murugan?

Lord Murugan is not just a religious figure—he is a cultural icon of Tamil identity, transcending caste lines and religious divides. From the poetic dialogues with Avvaiyar to the lore of the Arupadai Veedu (six holy abodes), Murugan has long been a symbol of Tamil valor and love. In a state known for its Dravidian rationalist roots, invoking such a figure represents a strategic move by the BJP to appeal emotionally and culturally to the Tamil populace.

The paradox, however, is stark: the BJP, which has often been seen as an outsider in Tamil Nadu, now seeks to "protect" and "celebrate" Lord Murugan, positioning itself as the custodian of Tamil spiritual heritage.

The Madurai Conference: A Preview of Bigger Plans

The Murugan Bhakthargal Aanmeega Maanadu (Murugan Devotees’ Spiritual Conference), although officially hosted by the Hindu Munnani, had the BJP’s ideological and logistical fingerprints all over it.

High-profile attendees included:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah

• Union Minister L. Murugan

• BJP state president Nayanar Nagendran

• Former BJP state chief K. Annamalai

• Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan

• Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan

The devotional setup was reminiscent of Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal, recreating the six abodes of Murugan. This spectacle wasn't just religious—it was political theatre, signaling the BJP’s full-throttle embrace of Hindutva in Tamil Nadu.

Eight Resolutions, One Agenda: Hindutva

Eight key resolutions passed during the event confirmed that this was not a mere religious congregation. These included:

• Calls to remove the HR & CE Department from temple management.

• Appeals to Hindus to vote en masse.

• Encouragement to chant Kandha Shasti Kavasam as a show of unity.

• Audio-visuals mocking Dravidian icons like Periyar, Anna, and Karunanidhi.

Such moves drew criticism for violating court orders that allowed the event only as a religious gathering, not a political rally.

DMK’s Dilemma: Ideology vs. Popular Sentiment

Ironically, the DMK government itself had hosted a Lord Murugan conference in Palani last year through the HR & CE Department, a move that drew skepticism even from its own allies. Critics questioned whether a secular party should be organizing religious events, especially when its ideological roots lie in atheism and anti-caste rationalism.

Yet, the public no longer perceives the DMK as an atheist party. The party is now viewed as a social justice-oriented movement that occasionally engages in religious symbolism—mainly as a counter to the BJP’s aggressive Hindutva strategy.

This ideological recalibration has kept the DMK afloat, but the challenge is clear: how to maintain its Dravidian legacy without ceding religious sentiment to the BJP.

AIADMK: A Party at the Crossroads

Meanwhile, the AIADMK finds itself in a political quagmire. Though some of its leaders attended the Madurai conference, the party risks eroding its own ideological identity by aligning too closely with the BJP. Critics within and outside the party warn of a “suicidal path”, one where AIADMK could end up alienating its core base while failing to attract BJP’s.

With no clear ideological ground to stand on, the AIADMK’s future appears uncertain.

The Real Battleground: Thirupparankundram and Beyond

The focus on Thirupparankundram, one of Murugan’s six sacred abodes, seems to be the BJP’s short-term strategy to keep the DMK government on the defensive. But the larger ideological goal is clear: challenge the Dravidian movement’s dominance and recast Tamil Nadu’s political identity through the lens of Hindutva.

Conclusion: Religion as a Political Weapon

This political appropriation of Lord Murugan is not unlike the BJP’s Ram Janmabhoomi strategy in North India. Tamil Nadu’s political landscape now faces a similar polarization—with BJP using cultural devotion as a tool for electoral gain.

But will this strategy work in a state known for rationalist icons like Periyar and a strong social justice movement? That remains to be seen.

For now, Lord Murugan has become the centerpiece of a new ideological war in Tamil Nadu—a war where the battle lines are drawn not just across parties, but across the very soul of Tamil identity.