A religious conference in Madurai last month is looking more and more like a political power play. On the surface, the Murugan Devotees’ Conference on June 22 was about faith, but with top BJP leaders there, it was clear something else was going on.
Here’s the thing about Lord Murugan—he’s a part of everything in Tamil culture. He connects people across all the usual divides. So while the conference was technically a religious event, it was clear to anyone watching that politics was the real show.
BJP’s Strategic Play
Officially, the Hindu Munnani’s Madurai unit put on the event, but it was the BJP’s show all the way. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was front and center, and he brought some heavy hitters with him.
We’re talking top names—the Maharashtra Governor, a state minister, the BJP’s state president, and Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh.
Their participation signaled a broader strategy at work.
Eight resolutions were passed. One pushed for Hindu voters to consolidate. Another questioned the role of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department in managing temples, an issue often debated between parties in Tamil Nadu.
And you have to look at the stagecraft. They built these incredible replicas of Lord Murugan’s six holy sites, but in the style of West Bengal’s Durga Puja. That wasn’t an accident. It’s a proven way to create a huge festival atmosphere and get people to show up, all while subtly pushing the BJP’s own version of cultural politics.
From Devotion to Disruption
This isn’t the BJP’s first attempt to link religious identity with political momentum in the state. A similar initiative—the 2020 Vel Yatra—was halted early. This time, the party appears more coordinated.
Observers see the event as a rehearsal for the assembly elections next year. Thirupparankundram, one of Murugan’s most revered abodes, is viewed as a launchpad for the BJP’s regional campaign.
At the same time, the conference has complicated the position of the DMK. Once rooted firmly in rationalist ideology, the ruling party now navigates a complex space where public religiosity and political identity increasingly intersect.
But here’s the twist: the DMK government did something very similar last year. They organized their own big event for Lord Murugan in Palani. A lot of people called them out on it, asking why a party that’s known for keeping religion and politics separate was suddenly getting into the festival business.
Caught in the Middle
But for the AIADMK, the conference was a disaster. You had their top leaders on a stage that featured parodies of the very figures their party was built on—Periyar, Anna, and Karunanidhi. The blowback was immediate, from all sides. It just highlights the impossible balancing act they’re in: trying to stay true to their past while being tied to the BJP.
“There’s no easy path for AIADMK,” said one political observer in Chennai. “Every move now looks like a compromise.”
DMK, meanwhile, must walk its own tightrope. The party benefits from being seen as a guardian of social justice, yet it cannot appear dismissive of religious values in a state where such sentiments are increasingly visible.
And with the BJP pushing its version of cultural nationalism, DMK faces the challenge of responding without reinforcing the BJP’s agenda.
Not Just Symbolic
Here’s what’s really going on with this conference. It’s not just a show. It’s the BJP’s way of seeing if they can use religion to muscle in on territory that’s always been run by Dravidian parties.
For their opponents, this looks familiar—it’s the same strategy they’ve used elsewhere to link religion and politics for votes. But here’s the catch: that playbook might not work in Tamil Nadu.
The state has its own unique political DNA, and many people here are naturally skeptical because of their history with social reform movements.
“People here don’t forget,” said a local historian in Madurai. “Lord Murugan isn’t a vote bank. He’s a part of our identity. That’s a different calculation.”
The Road Ahead
As the election gets closer, the pressure is on. The BJP has set the stage, and now the DMK and AIADMK have to make some tough calls.
The DMK is stuck between its secular history and the political reality of today. And the AIADMK has to make a cold calculation: is sticking with the BJP worth the damage?
For the BJP, this is not just a cultural moment. It’s a tactical shift—perhaps even a long game—in a state where the party has yet to claim major electoral ground.
The real question is whether voters in Tamil Nadu are buying what’s being offered. That answer may take time, and more than one Murugan conference, to become clear.
