Tamil Nadu’s political scene witnessed a significant shift with actor Ranjana Natchiyaar’s dramatic move from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This high-profile defection, coming just a day after her resignation from the BJP, signals growing dissent within the state against the BJP’s perceived imposition of Hindi through the three-language formula.
Natchiyaar, who joined the BJP eight years ago, publicly voiced her disapproval of the party’s policies, citing the controversial three-language policy as a primary reason for her departure. Her resignation letter highlighted her concerns as a Tamil woman, expressing her inability to accept what she viewed as the forceful imposition of Hindi, increasing hostility towards Dravidian identity, and a perceived neglect of Tamil Nadu’s needs and aspirations.
Natchiyaar wrote, “As a Tamil woman, I cannot accept the imposition of the three-language policy, growing hostility towards Dravidians, and neglect of Tamil Nadu’s needs and aspirations.”
🙏@BJP4TamilNadu @annamalai_k @KesavaVinayakan @blsanthosh pic.twitter.com/rkFMplsjA2
— Ranjana Natchiyaar (@RanjanaNachiyar) February 25, 2025
Her decision to join TVK, the political party led by popular actor Vijay, marks a significant political alliance. During a TVK anniversary event, Natchiyaar expressed her admiration for Vijay, referring to him as “the next MGR”—a reference to the legendary actor-politician MG Ramachandran, who profoundly shaped Tamil Nadu’s politics. She underscored the appeal of TVK’s blend of nationalism and Dravidian policies, making it, in her view, the optimal platform for her political ambitions.
Natchiyaar’s move is widely interpreted as the first major fallout from the BJP’s aggressive push for its three-language formula, a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP). This policy mandates the teaching of a third language in schools, frequently interpreted as a push for Hindi, triggering fierce opposition from Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The DMK and AIADMK, despite their traditional rivalry, have found common ground in their staunch opposition to the NEP and the BJP’s actions. Chief Minister MK Stalin’s vocal criticism of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of “blackmail” over the withholding of funds, underscores the intensity of the conflict. This “language war,” as it’s being termed, reflects the deep-seated sentiment in Tamil Nadu regarding linguistic identity and autonomy.
