What Caused the DMK’s Crushing Defeat?

 Chennai: Some ardent supporters of the DMK aver that the results of the 2026 Assembly elections was not at all a setback to the party. They do not even see anything seriously wrong with the way the modern generation perceives the party, its ideology and its performance in government in the last five years regime despite the electorate sending out an unambiguous message that they do not want even their top honcho M K Stalin becoming an MLA, leave alone returning as Chief Minister. If they just see the debacle in the polls as a part of the democratic process, a natural development in politics that should be taken in stride, then therein lies a package of prime reasons for its defeat: complacency and a tendency to take the voter for granted.

Starting from day one, when Chief Minister Stalin signed the order offering free bus rides for women in government buses to the very recent DMK protest against the proposed Bill for delimitation of constituencies in the thick a hectic campaign, the DMK was projecting itself as a completely pro-people party that was concerned more about the common people’s welfare. An elaborate paraphernalia of campaign machinery, including the party’s IT wing, the Populous Empowerment Network (PEN) run by the Chief Minister’s son-in-law, or the government publicity department, whirred over time all through the five years to create a clean image for the government and the Chief Minister.

The government was lavish in rewarding those who sang the praises of the establishment in mainstream television, social media and elsewhere in poets meets and debates of various kinds apparently to make sure that no disillusionment of the government ever showed up anywhere. It also came up with welfare schemes that are the opposition termed as freebies to appease the poor and those who wanted to present themselves as needy. So, the monetary and material rewards to the people will make them praise the government and be happy with what was given to them, the government and its band of advisors and administrators felt.

Occasional cash payment on various occasions, free breakfast for school children and many other schemes for the future of students had put the public on the gravy train, much to their delight, the government thought. It did not check with the people if they actually relished what was given to them on a platter but took it as a need that was being met by a benevolent regime with a kind-hearted Chief Minister at the helm. But they did not know that though the people accepted – or rather did not protest the benevolence – whatever was given to them was only resentful of receiving that alms though the government always insisted that it was their right to receive the benefits.

Apparently no feedback was taken from the public on the freebies. So, the government was blissfully unaware of the disillusionment building up in society particularly among the well-off sections and the youngsters. But somehow, it seems, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Vijay and his advisors realized that and came to the conclusion that narrative could be set against the government that was more obsessed with its narcissism and came up with the idea of a single point campaign to just take on the ruling DMK. Since the party leaders know that many of their supporters were too young to vote in the elections, the devised a novel method to urge those adolescents to force their parents and other elders who may love to them vote for their icon, Vijay, and the juvenile brigade turned out to be more powerful than adults in garnering votes. Though all these happened in the open, the ruling party that thought that it had attained invincibility through its welfare schemes, did not address the issues that the TVK was raising. Well, that is just one of the many reasons that caused the DMK’s debacle.