From IT to politics: BJP’s Ananthan Ayyasamy shakes up Vasudevanallur with AI

Tenkasi: Trading a high-flying tech career in the United States for the dusty campaign trails of southern Tamil Nadu, BJP candidate from Vasudevanallur (reserved) constituency in Tenkasi district, Ananthan Ayyasamy is redefining the political playbook.Hailing from Viswanathaperi village in Vasudevanallur, Ayyasamy quit the tech job in the US and returned to India in 2022 on the verge of social service. An ardent admirer of former chief minister J Jayalaithaa, politics runs in his family as his father and brother have been part of the AIADMK. But, Ayyasamy chose the BJP, and now holds the position of BJP district president for Tenkasi district. He is also running a nonprofit named ‘Voice of Tenkasi,' which carries out activities such as empowering farmers, tech education and career guidance."We are actively using AI; for the campaign we are using Claude AI to do sensitivity analysis, which includes analysis of voters, constituencies and people's sentiments. It also includes predictive analysis, which helps us in refining the campaign," Ayyasamy told TOI.Explaining the reason for joining BJP, he said that it is the only party that anyone who is working can potentially rise to the highest level. It would not be possible in DMK where there is dynasty politics. "I am from a traditional AIADMK family, where my father was a member of AIADMK since M G Ramachandran started the party. My younger brother, A Manoharan, was elected as AIADMK MLA from the Vasudevanallur constituency in 2016," he said."In these changing times, I have grown to admire Prime Minister Narendra Modi greatly," said Ayyasamy. He believes that Modi is giving a corruption-free govt and a development-oriented govt. He said that there was a good response from the people for his campaign. "People are are looking for change, and they believe that I can give that change. I was with the people of Vasudevanallur for the past four years and did services ranging from employment for youths to uplifting the basic infrastructure. So, the people have built a hope that I can bring a transformation, and it's a huge uprising," he added.Criticising Sankarankovil sitting MLA and Vasudevanallur DMK candidate E Raja, he said that the latter is contesting in Vasudevanallur out of fear. "The DMK is playing a game using money. They prioritise wealth, whereas we are garnering votes by simply articulating our works done in the past," said Ayyasamy.On caste arithmetic, Ayyasamy, who hails from the devendra kula vellalar community, said that politics is not free of caste. "I haven't worked here for a particular caste but rather worked universally for all, and I am clear that no specific caste or religious identity should be attached to me," he said and added that half of the members working in ‘Voice of Tenkasi' were religious minorities.He also credited Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, for bringing him back to India. "He always insists I do business in semiconductors, but I choose politics," added Ayyasamy.