High stake battle for Tirumavalavan

By Radha Venkatesan

CUDDALORE, MAY 7. It is a political irony the Mangalur electorate are yet to grapple with. Barely one-and-a- half years ago, the Dalit Panthers of India leader, Mr. R. Tirumavalavan, rode the TMC's ``bicycle'' to emerge as the runner-up in the Chidambaram parliamentary constituency.

But now, Mr. Tirumavalavan, who has been playing an aggressive Dalit politics for the past few years is engaged in a bitter fight against the sitting TMC MLA, Mr. S. Puratchimani, in the Mangalur Assembly segment which falls within the Chidambaram parliamentary constituency.

And predictably, his main worry is the Mangalur voters' memory. As his campaign jeep trundles through the Dalit pockets in the reserved constituency, Mr. Tirumavalavan painstakingly explains to the people that his symbol now is the ``rising sun''.

For the DPI leader who stormed into electoral politics in the last parliamentary election, it is a high stake battle now. And so it is for his rival, the Vanniar-based Pattali Makkal Katchi, which is pulling out all the stops to defeat the DPI leader. The Vanniars have a sizable presence in the constituency.

While the PMK cadres virulently canvass for Mr. Puratchimani, the party founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, addressed three campaign meetings. And his key message to the Mangalur voters was: ``We have to ensure that the rival candidate (Tirumavalavan) forfeits his deposit''.Far from it. Riding high on his popularity among the Dalit voters, the DPI leader, is giving a tough fight to the two-time MLA, Mr. Puratchimani.

With a stark polarisation of the Dalit and Vanniar voters Mr. Tirumavalavan, has an edge over his rival in the constituency with over 60,000 Dalit votes. In the last parliamentary election, Mr. Tirumavalavan polled nearly 50,000 votes in the Mangalur segment.

But Mr. Puratchimani claims that the Dalit voters have not consolidated in favour of the DPI. ``I will still get a sizable number of Dalit votes. Besides, the majority of the Vanniars and backward classes voters in the area will back me,'' he insists.

The TMC campaign machinery attempts to spread a fear psychosis, telling the voters that a ``vote for the TMC is a vote for peace. But a vote for others is a vote for violence.'' The DPI leader attempts to counter the TMC offensive, launching into an attack on the PMK's alleged anti-Dalit violence.

As the DPI contests on DMK ticket, Mr. Tirumavalavan may not have to worry much over transfer of the DMK votes to his kitty. And, even the Vanniar functionaries in the DMK are campaigning for him.

Interestingly, Mangalur was not exactly Mr. Tirumavalavan's choice. He took the plunge here only after the Chief Minister and DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi's sudden announcement during his campaigning in the Cuddalore district a fortnight ago.

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