Parties from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and even Kerala have sought the help of Brigs professionals
DMK treasurer MK Stalin. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai: The just concluded Bihar election has certainly tempted political parties in Tamil Nadu more than ever to take professional help for electioneering. Industry sources revealed to Deccan Chronicle that AIADMK has approached Oakland Brigs (OB), one of the leading strategy companies.
“OB is in different level of communication with AIADMK,” an industry source said, refusing to reveal the identity of the AIADMK bigwig or its associate who had approached OB. Incidentally, AIADMK is not the only party to have knocked at the doors of Oakland Brigs.
Parties from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and even Kerala have sought the help of Brigs professionals. When contacted, an Oakland Brigs spokesperson refused to comment.
The DMK, which is first among the political parties to engage professionals to increase its stakes in 2016, has also reportedly opened negotiations with I-PAC (India Political Action Committee), which successfully managed the strategies of Nitish-Lalu’s Mahagathbhandan. Though DMK leaders denied establishing any contact with the now famous group of political analysts, industry sources said that a very senior DMK top brass has opened negotiation with Prashant Kishor’s team and there would be some clarity on the talks in a fortnight.
When contacted over phone, Rishi Raj Singh of I-PAC said, “There are too many reports flying around about IPAC getting from Tamil Nadu. As of now, we have taken a break and we will not start before January 1, 2016. I would also confirm that there has been no communication made to us by any party.”
Industry sources with a ringside view of the developments unwilling to buy the argument of the spokespersons said the talks are on, but it is premature for them (both companies and parties) to go public as the whole process is based on trust and any information (on the talks) reaching the public domain could derail the whole negotiation and hence the denial. Incidentally, Tamil Nadu is not new to political parties taking professional help. DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin and PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss have already engaged professionals for their ongoing mass outreach program and road shows.
‘Team Stalin’ works behind the scenes
They are no IIT graduates who quit high-paying jobs or political analysts who do election management for top dollar, but ‘Team Stalin’ is a professional team in its own right. Whether it is dumping the karai veshti or visiting a temple or keeping the party district secretaries at bay, it was the two-dozen smartphone fiddling youngsters, mostly in the mid or late 20s with a bachelors degree or sometimes a little more, who made DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin do what he had not done before.
How the team of youngsters did it and what they did is as much an intriguing story as Stalin’s namakku naamey tour that is nearing completion now. “Hardly two of the 20 and odd member-strong PR team have DMK roots. We are not party functionaries or members. Our job is to plan and design his tour in a professional way and make him connect with the people,” remarked a member of the PR team requesting anonymity.
Equally distinctive was the team member’s attire. They neither wear T-shirts bearing the words Nammakku Naamey printed on it nor carry pictures of Stalin in their shirt pockets. Any ostentatious display of party allegiance is a strict no among the PR team members. Every place, program or petition received is meticulously planned and executed by them, indeed after taking some support from the local party unit. Once the day ends, the team gets in to a huddle, discusses the points and the chief among them make a presentation to Stalin, mostly around midnight.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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