In Tamil Nadu, the BJP is working to change the perception of being a 'Brahmin party' by not fielding any candidates from the community.

The absence of Brahmin candidates from the BJP and AIADMK lists in Tamil Nadu has caused concern within the Brahmin community, potentially leading to a split in anti-DMK votes.

Pammal S. Ramakrishnan from the Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association expressed disappointment, noting that Brahmins have traditionally supported these parties but were not accommodated in the candidate lists this time. Despite hopes for Brahmin candidates like H. Raja and Karthikeyan, other candidates were chosen due to alliance talks and preferences from party leaders.

Tamilisai Soundararajan is now the BJP's candidate from Chennai South, while the BJP has given significant seats to its ally PMK. Ramakrishnan mentioned the community's dissatisfaction with DMK's leadership due to perceived anti-Hindu and anti-Brahmin remarks.

Political analyst Maalan Narayanan highlighted the BJP's efforts to distance itself from being labeled a Brahmin party, focusing on broader appeal. Ramakrishnan also spoke about the AIADMK's historical support for Brahmins, especially during Jayalalithaa's tenure, but noted the uncertainty caused by the lack of a BJP-AIADMK alliance.

Both BJP and AIADMK spokespeople emphasized that caste wasn't a factor in candidate selection, and AIADMK mentioned that Brahmin-dominated constituencies are more prevalent in assembly rather than parliamentary elections.

Maalan noted that despite the absence of Brahmin leaders in AIADMK, the party had previously garnered Brahmin support due to anti-DMK sentiment. The BJP's reliance on Modi's popularity among Brahmin voters was also highlighted.

Overall, the absence of Brahmin candidates has created a dilemma within the community, affecting their traditional support for BJP and AIADMK and potentially influencing the upcoming elections.