📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gsd33
Politics
Manickam Tagore Dismisses BJP‑RSS 'Vande Mataram' Politics in TN
✍️ ThePrint
🗓 18 Aug 2026, 05:48 AM
👁 5
Congress leader Manickam Tagore has publicly dismissed the BJP‑RSS strategy of promoting 'Vande Mataram' as ineffective in Tamil Nadu, citing the state’s unique political dynamics.
Manickam Tagore, a senior Congress leader, recently criticized the BJP‑RSS approach of using 'Vande Mataram' as a political slogan in Tamil Nadu, stating that it would not resonate with the state’s electorate.
The BJP and its ideological partner RSS have increasingly incorporated the patriotic anthem into their campaign messaging across India, hoping to appeal to a broad base. Tagore argued that such a strategy oversimplifies Tamil Nadu’s complex socio‑political fabric.
Tamil Nadu has a long history of regional parties dominating state politics, with voters prioritizing local issues, caste dynamics, and development agendas over nationalistic slogans. The Congress party has traditionally focused on these factors to maintain relevance.
Tagore’s remarks come ahead of the upcoming state elections, where the BJP seeks to expand its presence. The statement underscores the Congress’s confidence that a tailored, locally grounded approach will outperform a one‑size‑fits‑all national narrative.
The BJP and its ideological partner RSS have increasingly incorporated the patriotic anthem into their campaign messaging across India, hoping to appeal to a broad base. Tagore argued that such a strategy oversimplifies Tamil Nadu’s complex socio‑political fabric.
Tamil Nadu has a long history of regional parties dominating state politics, with voters prioritizing local issues, caste dynamics, and development agendas over nationalistic slogans. The Congress party has traditionally focused on these factors to maintain relevance.
Tagore’s remarks come ahead of the upcoming state elections, where the BJP seeks to expand its presence. The statement underscores the Congress’s confidence that a tailored, locally grounded approach will outperform a one‑size‑fits‑all national narrative.