BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Vinoj P. Selvam defended the Thiruparankundram lamp ritual, saying Hindus will reclaim their rights [1].
The dispute highlights escalating tensions between the BJP and opposing political factions over religious protocols and judicial mandates in the state. It reflects a broader struggle for cultural and legal authority in Tamil Nadu.
Selvam said the lamp will be lit according to a High Court order [1]. He said leaders from the DMK and TVK are politicizing the issue to divert public attention from other failures. Specifically, Selvam said these parties are attempting to hide ongoing problems regarding law-and-order and power-shortage issues [1].
This confrontation occurs alongside other protocol disputes involving the same political actors. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said the DMK and TVK were wrong regarding a separate row concerning the protocol for playing "Vande Mataram" at an oath ceremony [2].
While the lamp ritual is centered in Thiruparankundram, the BJP maintains that its actions are lawful and grounded in the protection of Hindu rights [1]. The party views the opposition's critiques as tactical distractions rather than genuine concerns over protocol.
“Hindus will reclaim their rights”
The intersection of judicial orders and religious rituals in Tamil Nadu is becoming a primary flashpoint for political mobilization. By framing the lamp lighting as a matter of legal right and religious identity, the BJP is attempting to consolidate its base while painting the DMK and TVK as obstructors of the law. This strategy links local cultural disputes to broader governance failures, such as power shortages, to weaken the credibility of the state administration.
