Amit Shah breaches DMK fort, Napoleon joins BJP

CHENNAI: Poaching leaders from other parties has been a key part of BJP president Amit Shah's winning strategy in states where the saffron party has been able to notch up impressive poll victories despite lacking a strong base.
In a step that BJP leaders are hoping is only the beginning of an influx, former Union minister and DMK leader Napoleon joined BJP on Sunday in Shah's presence.Napoleon, an Alagiri confidante, said his move had M Karunanidhi's son blessings.
"They gave me ministership, but they tied my hands. I was not able to do anything, and I was very frustrated," actor-turned-politician Napoleon told TOI about his DMK stint. '
Refuting the argument that BJP can't make inroads into Dravidian land, Napoleon said the younger generation expects a leader who has a vision for development and they believe Modi is that leader.
Hailing Narendra Modi as a "visionary", he said his entry into BJP was to strengthen the "Prime Minister's hands in every deed". Modi was a leader of Gujarat and he became a leader of India, Napoleon said. He will be a world leader soon, he added. "Modi and Amit Shah will change Tamil Nadu politics,' he said.
Napoleon said, "I did not like DMK's functioning. There was no intra-party democracy. The party elections were not conducted the way they should be. The cadres used to follow the instructions of the leadership without any groupism. Now the culture has changed."
He said he was sidelined in the party for his association with Alagiri. "I was closely working with Stalin when I was elected as MLA. Similarly I worked with Alagiri annan (brother) when I was elected as MP since he too came to Parliament. But they have branded me as belonging to one group. I never felt part of any group. I always followed Kalaignar (Karunanidhi)," he said.
Napoleon is the third prominent person in the state to join BJP during Shah's two-day tour of the state. Lyricist Gangai Amaran and choreographer Gayathri Raguram joined on Saturday.
BJP has been seeking to position itself as an alternative to the Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK in the state, charging them of neglecting development. Napoleon is the first prominent face from a Dravidian major to join BJP.
Napoleon says that Dravidian ideology has little hold within DMK. "Only Kalaignar and a few senior leaders are following the ideology. Others have become power hungry. DMK is losing ground in the state. The results of assembly and Lok Sabha polls reflect people's minds. But the second generation leadership is not bothered about all this," Napoleon alleged.
Napoleon was Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment in the UPA government. Napoleon is also a close relative of former state minister and Trichy DMK strongman K N Nehru.
Napoleon was a star campaigner for DMK in many elections. He acted in more than 100 movies in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. "I decided to quit politics a few months back. But the leadership of Modi attracted me and BJP recognized my clean image and commitment. So I came back to active politics. I will surely campaign for BJP in the assembly polls," he said.
Replying to a query about DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, he said, "I do not have any opinion against any individual. In fact, I spoke to Karunanidhi and got his blessings before joining BJP."
In a letter to DMK president and general secretary, Napoleon had said he was quitting the party and thanked those who had supported him. However, he did not give any reasons for his decision.