MDMK bouncing back in Virudhunagar district

By S. Annamalai

VIRUDHUNAGAR, APRIL 30. When the DMK ejected it from the NDA everyone tended to write it off as a `non-serious player' in the election arena. But the MDMK has bounced back in Virudhunagar district, to give a stiff fight to both the NDA and the AIADMK- led alliance. Though the party may not fare well elsewhere in the State, its cadres are determined to demonstrate the hold of Mr. Vaiko over the electorate in the Sivakasi Lok Sabha constituency which covers five Assembly segments.

A visible lack of coordination between the AIADMK and the Congress-TMC combine at the ground level and local factors one projecting the MDMK as a respectable contender. In some pockets of influence, the voters feel that the real fight is between the DMK and the MDMK.

The DMK has fielded its candidates in Aruppukottai, Sattur, Virudhunagar and Rajapalayam, leaving Srivilliputtur to the BJP. The AIADMK has nominees in Aruppukottai, Srivilliputtur and Rajapalayam. Its ally, TMC, is contesting in Virudhunagar and Sivakasi, with Sattur going to the Congress. The MDMK has put up its candidates in five of the six constituencies.

The MDMK has three factors to its advantage. The services rendered by Mr. Vaiko as MP, the lack of coordination among the constituents of the secular front and the caste factor. Mr. Velusamy Konar, a street vendor, recalls how Mr. Vaiko has been accessible to the common man. The medical camps organised by him for the physically handicapped are still remembered. ``When he is fighting a lone battle, we should support him,'' say the villagers. Mr. Murugesan of P. Kumaralingapuram feels that all over the district, Naidus (Rajakambalam and Kammavars) would vote for the MDMK.

For the DMK candidates, the Government's performance gives them the confidence to seek votes. They have the additional advantage of having the Puthiya Tamizhagam, which has its presence all over the district.

The party also has a good `election manager' in Mr. K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran, district secretary, the nominee for Sattur. The plight of match units, whose existence is threatened by mechanisation, is a factor that will go against the DMK.

The tiny and small match units are sore that the Government has done nothing to prevent the operation of mechanised units. The AIADMK front is heavily banking on its traditional votebank.

But the TMC camp is getting deserted with the exodus of its functionaries to the TMC Democratic Forum. The Congress is bogged down in factional feuds and there is open resentment in these parties over the choice of candidates. The fate of the candidates will be decided on who gets the major chunk of votes from three dominant caste groups - Naidus, Nadars and Dalits.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : State Elections
Previous : Minister's performance vs. alliance strength
Next     : It is difficult to work with AIADMK: Naidu