Delhi Chalo is the cry of the year

Chennai: Somewhere in the state of Mississippi in USA a toddler who was born HIV-positive needs no more medication in what should be a normal life thanks to the first ever 'functional cure' of the dreaded disease. The march of science and man was best signified in that revolutionary breakthrough in 2013.

Somewhere in Russia, of many meteorites streaming across the sky one weighing 20 tonnes entered the atmosphere at a speed of 5,00,000 kms an hour came near enough to cause a sonic boom so loud that many had to be hospitalised.

The helpless of man against natural forces was stressed once again in 2013.Nearer home, quite terribly, if somewhat spectacularly, rivers changed course when in spate in Uttarakhand.

On a scale of tragedies, Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the Philippines was the villain of the year.

There were, of course, villainous deeds or thereabouts by men too, the worst of all, perhaps, in the 'Selfie' of the year starring Barack Obama, David Cameron and the Danish premier Helle Thorning-Schmidt, on a sombre occasion of the funeral of Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest men of the 20th century who left us in the new millennium.

Closer home, Indian politicians are not, mercifully, half as much in thrall to narcissism, at least not so exhibitionistic anyway.

While a young Chief minister chose a humble Metro ride to his coronation, en route to making history as the first genuine champion of an anti-corruption crusade. Nearer home, politicos were kept busy with the Sri Lankan Tamil issue if they were not otherwise engaged in preparing for the Great Decider of 2014.

Coalition may still be the theme of our politics since the days of the one-party rule at the Centre disappeared 17 years ago. But there is at least one person who thinks otherwise.

The Tamil Nadu Chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa, prefers to look at the larger picture after it zooms into clarity post-2014 rather than show her hand or state her preferences at this juncture.

'Delhi Chalo' written in Tamil might sound bizarre considering the linguistic politics in which the great Dravidian parties emerged a true force but it was the theme of the year.

The logic is pretty clear. If Deva Gowda, with a motley collection of MPs, could become Prime Minister of India then there is no reason to believe others far more capable than a state leader from nursing their national ambitions. 

The chances are that much like they say on the sporting fields, 'anything is possible' and the ruling party in the state is beginning to believe Tamil Nadu's time has come to send someone to Race Course Road.

Historians say Chakravarthi Rajagoplachari, an intellectual giant, was Governor-General of India and Madras CM but never in the running for PM.

Kamaraj was a giant not only in his homeland but in the national party too.

Known as the 'Kingmaker' who made Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi as Prime Ministers, he was perhaps, too simple a man to nurse greater personal ambitions. He was equally famous for the Kamaraj Plan that saw senior ministers exiting office to work for the party.

That might just leave J. Jayalalithaa as the first serious contender from the state if a fractured verdict of a poll scenario in which no national party gets anywhere close to a majority becomes true.

“Win all 40 seats' is the first step in a national dream, which might be a big task in multi-cornered contests if large pre-poll coalitions are a no-go at this point in time. Like the proof of the pudding, the ballot box is the sole arbiter.

What may have already placed the AIADMK supremo in an advantageous position so far as the popular vote goes are two schemes that have caught the public imagination.

Not only were the schemes novel in their conception but they were also splendidly executed to be the pride of the capital, making a footprint that can easily be taken to other places in the state.

The Amma Canteen, which serves an idly for Rs 1and much else besides, is a fine example of a well coordinated scheme run by Women's Self Help Groups manning the kitchens.

The quality given at such a price has to be tasted to be believed. In taking the scheme further to create a large eatery at the General Hospital, more than the twin objective of quality food at a subsidised and highly affordable price for the common man is being served.

The other scheme that has been operating well is the Amma fruits and veggies vends in the city that bring the produce to the customer at extremely competitive prices.

The logistics may seem mind boggling but it has been tackled with resolve to provide another basic for the plate and the palate. With prices falling elsewhere, perhaps in competition, the state vegetable retail outlets do not seem as busy as before.

But the quality and freshness of the vegetables makes them a favourite of housewives who were shopping previously at branded retailers.

To replicate both schemes on a scale to cover the larger urban agglomerations of the state may take some doing.

But the efficiency of the mechanism just shows what a difference a concerted effort by the state can make to the lives of its citizens. Unlike armies, people may not march only on their stomachs. Politics is too complex for that.

The conceptualisation and execution of the schemes are so good that aam aadmi cannot but be impressed.

The battle of the ballet will decide and it is a matter of pride that a Tamil CM might indeed be in the running for the top office in the country.

Next: Crucial epoch ahead for rulers

Crucial epoch ahead for rulers

J V Siva Prasanna Kumar | DC

Chennai: From laptops to students to free rice for the needy, novel green houses for the neglected to free cows and goats for the rural poor, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa enters into 2014, bracing a foray into national politics, with schemes for everyone.

With the cadres keen on seeing their dynamic “Amma” (Jayalalithaa) occupying the top post, 2014 will be an epoch making year for the party for two reasons: for the first time in its history, the AIADMK will be contesting all 40 seats on its own in the Lok Sabha elections.

Women found shopping at the fruit and veggie vends of the state fun as well as being easy on the purse. — DC

Secondly, if elected, she will be the first woman from the south to lead the nation. She has been performing well in a male dominated Indian politics. It is not only her welfare initiatives but also an aggressive foreign policy which she has been indicating will make every Indian hold his head in pride, say party insiders.

She had ensured that the Sri Lankan players did not take part in the IPL in Chennai and her demand to the Centre to desist from calling Sri Lanka a friendly nation has been received well among various sections in the state.

She has even reached out to the devout, offering subsidised trips to Maansarovar and Mukthinath for Hindus and Jerusalem for Christians, similar to the gesture extended to Muslims for the annual Haj pilgrimage. Her latest pro-people \ employee gesture was to bail out NLC employees when the Centre decided to sell out its stakes.

Even when its founder and former chief minister M.G. Ramachandran was at the helm, the party faced the polls in the company of either the Congress (1977 and 1984 elections) or the  Janata Party (1980). This is the first time the party will contest the Lok Sabha elections alone – a decision that was taken during the fag end of 2012.

Interestingly, the BJP leadership is not inclined to upset her friendly ties with its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi upon whom it left the decision of forming an alliance in TN. The saffron party has already made it clear that it would not align with the DMK which is friendless for the LS polls.

Next: Kanimozhi’s RS seat pleases DMK most this year

Kani’s RS seat pleases DMK most this year

K Karthikeyan | DC

Chennai: It has been a satisfying year for the DMK and its chief M Karunanidhi. Firstly, he got his daughter M Kanimozhi renominated to the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Congress party which he has dumped now. A welcome breather after the painful ‘stay’ in Tihar, the parliamentary berth temporary silenced the ambitious MP daughter.

Secondly, his party treasurer-son M K Stalin almost stepped into his shoes by calling the shots during most major political exigencies the party was pitted against in 2013. Influencing his reluctant father to give the nod for contesting the Yercaud bypoll was Stalin’s masterstroke.

Last but not least, the always-sulking elder son M K Alagiri troubled his father less this year, partly due to his mother’s ailing health.

A consolation for the DMK?head honcho M.?Karunanidhi was that his daughter secured her seat again in?Rajya Sabha with Congress help.  — DC

Alagiri, the only party leader who fretted over the divorce with the Congress, however was not vocal in voicing his dissent. He chose to remain withdrawn, much to the relief of his father currently preoccupied with political business, ahead of the crucial 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

But for the deposition of his ailing wife Dayalu Ammal in the 2G case at his Gopalapuram residence instead of at the CBI special court in New Delhi, which, some in the family consider a victory of sorts, Karunanidhi and his obedient udanpirapus have had fewer issues for sleepless nights in the last twelve months.

On the political front, the DMK has shed its extra baggage, the Congress, a decision long overdue. In dumping the Congress, the DMK believes that it has spared itself from the onslaught of pro-Tamil groups on the Lankan Tamils issue, a rallying point for a while for all parties, other than those in power during the fag end of the last leg of the Eelam war in 2009.

The entry of the MMK and Puthiya Tamizhagam into the DMK fold after the RS polls should comfort the DMK, given its stand to go it alone with its existing allies in 2014.

If the exit of Paruthi Ilamvazhuthi, once the Dalit face of the DMK and now a Karuna baiter leading the anti-DMK bandwagon in the AIADMK, is the low point of the DMK, the arrival of T Rajendar, though relatively small in stature, should boost Karunanidhi’s campaign managers.

Overtures made by their estranged friend Vijayakanth shows signs of a promising year ahead for Karunanidhi and company.

Next: Not all’s well with the Captain’s party

Not all’s well with the Captain’s party

G Jagannath | DC

Chennai: All is not well in the eight- year-old DMDK founded by Vijayakanth as it witnessed further erosion in its rank and file in 2013 with its seniormost leader and Presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran quitting the party.

The DMDK suffered a major blow with the exit of Ramachandran who is considered an ideologue for Vijayakanth.

Though he cited health reasons for quitting, he had dropped enough hints of his difference with 'Captain' Vijayakanth. His exit came at a time when other party MLAs and leaders are also deserting it.

Former MP S. Austin who was DMDK deputy general secretary quit the party in August this year, complaining that he was completely sidelined in the party.

DMDK’s supremo Vijayakanth had a rough year in which he ventured into Delhi assembly polls too where his party put up a no-show with the public. Captain also lost one of his trusted advisers in senior politician Panruti Ramachandran who left alleging excessive family control of party.
—DC

Austin who hails from Kanyakumari district, joined the DMK along with his supporters.

The strength of DMDK's loyal MLAs is now reduced to 21 with three more legislators including 'Ma Foi' K. Pandiarajan meeting Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, seeking her help for their constituency developments. Last year, four MLAs switched their allegiance to the ruling party.

DMDK chief Vijayakanth's nominee for the Rajya Sabha polls A. R. Elangovan suffered with seven of his party legislators voting for the AIADMK.

The party's effort to garner the support of the Congress also failed. Despite the desertion faced by the party, Vijayakanth is putting up a brave face to enthuse party cadres for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

Now, the party, all of a sudden, is being wooed by the DMK, BJP and Congress to be part of their electoral alliance for the ensuing polls. “We will prove our strength in the parliamentary polls,” asserts a senior DMDK leader.