Kongu Nadu: A region not formally defined, yet the subject of a ‘bifurcation’ debate in Tamil Nadu

 A list of latest Union Cabinet ministers issued by using the BJP has prompted a debate in political circles in Tamil Nadu, as well as on social media, by way of referring to ‘Kongu Nadu’, the casual name for a vicinity within the western a part of the state. The listing mentions new minister L Murugan as hailing from ‘Kongu Nadu’. This has brought about allegations that the BJP of trying to bifurcate the nation, with the ruling DMK-Congress alliance pronouncing the “agenda” will now not succeed.

But wherein is Kongu Nadu?

‘Kongu Nadu’ is neither a place with a PIN code nor a name given formally to any location. It is a normally used name for a part of western Tamil Nadu.

In Tamil literature, it become known as one of the 5 regions of historical Tamil Nadu. There had been mentions of ‘Kongu Nadu’ in Sangam literature as a separate territory.

In the present country of Tamil Nadu, the time period is informally used to refer to a vicinity that consists of the districts of Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Karur, Namakkal and Salem, as well as Oddanchatram and Vedasandur in Dindgul district, and Pappireddipatti in Dharmapuri district. The call derives from Kongu Vellala Gounder, an OBC network with a large presence in these districts.

The place includes outstanding corporations and business hubs at Namakkal, Salem, Tirupur and Coimbatore. It has also been taken into consideration an AIADMK stronghold in the recent beyond, and is also where the BJP’s restrained impact within the kingdom is concentrated.

How did the debate damage?

The list released with the aid of the BJP profiles each new minister with the names of the region and state she or he comes from, such as minister John Barla from “Jalpaiguri, West Bengal”, and Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai from “Surendranagar, Gujarat”. It refers to Murugan as being from “Kongu Nadu, Tamil Nadu”.

As social media broke into debate over an alleged try to bifurcate the kingdom, a few BJP handles were seen supporting the concept of ‘Kongu Nadu’ — in a country wherein their celebration has little presence besides for their latest seats they gained in alliance with the AIADMK.

Is there any ground for the allegations about a deliberate bifurcation?

Unlike Telangana or Uttarakhand, there has by no means been a demand or discussions approximately a separate Kongu Nadu within the modern-day political records of Tamil Nadu. The debate, consequently, lacks any political or social context. Many, however, see it as a counter from the BJP to the DMK’s assertive stand in the usage of the term Ondriya Arasu (Union authorities) in place of Madhiya Arasu (important government).

“I do not assume there is an instantaneous plan. They were planting a seed without a doubt, and brought about that discuss. Hereafter, the call for for ‘Kongu Nadu’ will not be a new trouble,” said a former AIADMK minister. Another AIADMK minister stated the idea of ‘Kongu Nadu’ can backfire on the BJP if it pushes it for votes.

In electoral politics, however, it's far visible as the only region in which the BJP and RSS have some thing of a presence. Two of the four seats the BJP won in the latest Assembly polls, way to the AIADMK alliance, had been in western Tamil Nadu.v