PM Modi began 2024 with his visits to three southern states of Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and Kerala. Today in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu he attended the 38th Convocation Ceremony of Bharathidasan University and laid foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore. He is expected to inaugurate several key projects next in Lakshadweep and Kerala tomorrow. As the BJP under PM Modi's leadership aims for a third term in 2024, it understands the challenge these states pose particularly in the backdrop of the party losing Karnataka last year and failing to make an impact in the recent Telangana polls.