Annamalai Slams 'Gujarat-Centric' Development Model, Seeks More Power For States

Some remarks have been made by the leader of the BJP, K Annamalai, regarding his own party. He feels that they are doing a lot in the state of Gujarat, which happens to be the native place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He made these statements while addressing the India Today Tamil Nadu Round Table in Chennai on Monday. He used to head the Tamil Nadu BJP. According to him, the BJP is concerned only about Delhi but does not think about places. He wants the state leaders to be empowered so that they can decide for themselves regarding the BJP.

Not All Development Can Happen In One State

According to Annamalai, there could be no emphasis on having all development concentrated in one particular state. He said that there would not be an arrangement where AI firms, wafer and semiconductor units, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, 2030 Police Games and the 2036 Olympics, which was bid by Ahmedabad, will all go to Gujarat. He also mentioned that it is high time the decision should be changed since people in the whole country have their eyes fixed on the decisions. These comments are issued amid the ongoing debate about Gujarat securing itself with many national projects such as the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor unit and Tata-Airbus aircraft manufacturing plant, which were initially associated with Maharashtra and then shifted to Gujarat.

Annamalai Supports Tamil Nadu CM Vijay

There were some comments made by Annamalai concerning the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. According to Annamalai, the new government requires some time to sort things out. He believes that the first hundred days have been fruitful for Annamalai because the chief minister is doing his best to curb corruption. Annamalai feels that at least a year must be given to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay before any judgments are made regarding him. Annamalai is backing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay now. According to Annamalai, it is his responsibility as a Tamilian to allow Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay some space to implement his plans and policies.