SRB not acceptable to party workers

By K. V. Prasad

COIMBATORE, APRIL 23. The candidature of the former Union Minister and Tamil Maanila Congress candidate for the Thondamuthur Assembly constituency here, Mr. S. R. Balasubramanian, has run into rough weather.

His selection over two locally prominent functionaries, including the Deputy Mayor of Coimbatore, has caused heartburns among partymen who preferred a candidate who is ``close'' to the cadres.

Despite being described as a heavyweight for his stint as Union Minister and as a ``popular'' Leader of the Opposition during 1991-96, Mr. Balasubramanian faces rejection from within the party.

Even when he filed his nomination here today, the only prominent persons who accompanied Mr. Balasubramanian were his brother and chairman of the Coimbatore Milk Producer's Union, Mr. S. R. Rajagopal, and the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Sanganur M. Velusamy.

The district TMC is trying to assuage hurt feelings and close ranks ``only for the sake of the party and their president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar''.

It was expected that Mr. Balasubramanian might contest from Pongalur, which returned him twice (in 1989 and 1991). However, the alliance leader, AIADMK, took the Pongalur seat and left only three of the 15 constituencies in this district - Coimbatore East, Coimbatore West and Thondamuthur- for its allies. Thondamuthur was thought of as being favourable to Mr. Balasubramanian as this Assembly segment is part of the Nilgiris parliamentary constituency from where he won in 1996. (However, he lost the 1998 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency and the 1999 parliamentary polls from Coimbatore.)

But, this time round, there were other aspirants as well. The district secretary - Mr. M. N. Kandaswamy and the Deputy Mayor. The cadres say Mr. Balasubramanian is desperate to regain lost ground in Coimbatore and in the process has denied a chance for others to contest.

One charge against Mr. Balasubramanian is that he identifies with the elite in the party and not with the grass roots worker. This has apparently prompted a major section to prefer someone more familiar to both the constituency and the cadres. Added to this is the allegation that Mr. Balasubramanian has done little for Thondamuthur as MP.

Party sources say the resentment has been conveyed to the high command in Chennai. Dejected sections have restrained themselves from openly expressing their resentment to avoid any adverse impact on the campaign.

The TMC now seeks to draw strength from the fact that both the DMK and the MDMK have fielded new faces. This may work in favour of the TMC. The party leadership in the district says the rancour over the candidature has got be overcome lest a winning chance in Thondamuthur get squandered.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : People's verdict supreme: Jayalalitha
Next     : Poll Sidelights