In its ideological battle with the Dravidian organisations, the BJP is looking build a campaign to “reconstruct” the identity of the Tamil language and “rescue” it from “atheistic propaganda.”

The idea has come from State president Tamilisai Soundararajan, who wants to popularise the works of Alwars and Nayanmars, the ‘bhakthi’ movement saints, to spread the message that spiritualism and Tamil were historically intertwined and the Dravidian movement had “distorted” this history.

“These organisations [Dravidian and Tamil nationalist] have created an image that religion and Tamil were independent of each other. Have C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi given us more beautiful Tamil works than Alwars and Nayanmars,” she asked.

Ms. Soundararajan claimed that majority of the population in Tamil Nadu were indeed believers. “Already, we have begun spreading ‘bhakthi’ works in our public meetings where references to these works are made. I do it in my speeches without fail,” she said.

The mechanics of the full-fledged campaign would be worked out soon. The matter was discussed at the party State committee meeting in Kumbakonam recently.

The idea comes in the wake of a face-off between Hindu organisations and the Dravidar Kazhagam recently over the thali issue. Leaders of these organisations traded acerbic statements against each other with the issue even reaching the High Court.