Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday said that regional politics has held Tamil Nadu back, adding that the state needs to participate in the political scenario.

"There is a vacuum of politics in Tamil Nadu. In my opinion, Tamil Nadu has suffered due to regional mentality, which has been coloured by violence, terrorism and separatist tendencies. Now, we need Tamil Nadu to become a part of the political scene and that only the BJP can give," Swamy told mediapersons here.

Swamy further said that a BJP government in Tamil Nadu would pay huge dividends, helping the state to become a crucial player in stakes of national importance.

"I think Tamil Nadu needs a BJP government in the upcoming state elections in 2016 so that they can participate in national politics and become part of the national milieu. Unfortunately, the politicians here have tried to keep up the separatist mentality which has been damaging to the state," he said.