Economic factors also did DMK in

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

COIMBATORE, MAY 15. Alliance arithmetic and the `invisible wave' that have swept the AIADMK to power apart, there are some basic economic factors behind the overwhelming rejection of the DMK in this industrial belt.

These include the unresolved crisis in the plantation sector, particularly tea, the continuing recession in industry and the inability of the Centre and State Governments to pull the textile industry out of the abyss.

A feature of the verdict in Coimbatore district, over the years, has been the complete reversal of the trend each time.

In 1991, the DMK was routed and it was the turn of the AIADMK to face the wrath of the people in 1996.

It was a wash-out for the DMK this time, and it lost all 15 seats in this district.

Analysts, however, believe that there is really ``no serious erosion'' in the vote bank of either of the Dravidian parties. It is the `add on' of the allies and the undecided voters which makes for a sweep.

For instance, in 1991, the AIADMK-Congress combine, riding on the sympathy wave generated by Rajiv assassination, garnered 11 lakh votes in the district, winning all 15 seats.

The DMK was left with 5.5 lakh votes. In 1996, the DMK-TMC-CPI front polled 11.5 lakh votes (59.6 per cent), thanks to the `anti-corruption wave'.

The AIADMK, which remained with the Congress, secured just over six lakh votes (32 per cent).

In last week's election, the AIADMK-led front polled about 10.5 lakh votes (53.6 per cent), pushing the DMK front to the 6.40 lakh level (32.2 per cent).

The MDMK, which went alone, managed 1.53 lakh votes (7.7 per cent). So much for the electoral arithmetic.

But there are local and economic factors which also influenced voting this time.

Coimbatore district is the most industrialised in the State. About one-third of its 42-lakh population consists of industrial workers.

Textiles are the major industry of the region, but it faces the stiffest challenge of fighting a recession that has persisted for almost three years.

Six major textile mills have closed down and 13 remain non- functional. Many of the light engineering units have also downed their shutters because of the recession.

The general perception among the workforce is that the economic and industrial policies of the Centre and the `indifference' on the part of the DMK regime to their plight are responsible for the present downturn.

They are convinced that liberalised imports, removal of quantitative restrictions (QRs) and the new WTO regime of free trade would have serious repercussions on the small scale sector too.

Small spinners are upset that the Government refused to rescind its order withdrawing excise duty exemption and some other concessions.

While millowners are sore that the DMK Government did nothing to redress their grievances and help them survive, the workers blame the previous regime for not renewing the wage accord through a new agreement.

They want the new government to initiate tripartite talks.

In the neighbouring Nilgiris, it is the plantation sector or more specifically the tea industry which has been badly hit.

Though the BJP candidate in Udhagamandalam, Mr. J. Hutchi Gowder, had all the right credentials, he lost to the Congress nominee, Mr. H. M. Raju.

The result, it seems, is mainly an expression of the ``anger'' of the estate management and the workers against both the Centre and State Government which ``turned a deaf ear'' to their cries for help.

The agitation by the small growers and the police ``mishandling'' of the protest last year are still green in their memory.

Even in the Coonoor (Res) constituency, considered a DMK fort, its influential candidate, Mr. E. M. Mahaliappan, was trounced by an ``outsider'', Mr. K. Kandasamy of the TMC.

The grouse in the `tea belt' is that both Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and the Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, failed to come to the rescue of this sector.

There is also a political angle to the `tea factor'. The DMK's alliance with the Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) led by Dr. K. Krishnasamy jolted the plantations, especially estate owners.

After what happened on the Singampatti estates, they were afraid that the DMK, if voted back to power, could succumb to PT pressures.

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Section  : State Elections
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