Vijayendra Prasad, Ilaiyaraaja benefited from BJP’s ‘Southern push’

On Wednesday, four prominent public figures were nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. All four of them are from south India. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and ‘Baahubali’ screenwriter Vijayendra Prasad are the most prominent names mentioned in the media because they are from the entertainment industry. The former is from Tamil Nadu, while the latter is from the Telugu States. 

“BJP’s big southern push – sprinter PT Usha (Kerala), legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja (TN), spiritual leader Veerendra Heggade (Karnataka) and leading director KV Vijayendra Prasad (Andhra) are NDA’s pick for Presidential nomination to the RS. One name each from 4 Southern states,” tweeted journalist Marya Shakil.

Commentators are saying that the BJP has nominated the four individuals in an attempt to widen its base down South. BJP is the strongest political party in Karnataka, while it is the weakest force in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. It’s growing in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. 

Both Ilaiyaraaja and Prasad are pro-Hindutva personalities, with the latter being an open RSS sympathizer. The former, a legendary composer, is a Modi supporter. Last year, he praised Modi’s track record as a Prime Minister.