Chennai: People seemed worried that law and order problems would return if the DMK returns to power. Worse still, they feared that the domination of the first family and its multiple branches would cause problems — as witnessed the last time the DMK was in power, 1996-2001.
The criticism from DMK’s rivals — not just the AIADMK leaders but those from the PMK and the PWA— that if Karunanidhi came back as CM, the stranglehold of his family over the state and its people would be unbearable.
The sight of the DMK chief addressing poll campaigns flanked by 2G accused A Raja and controversial nephew Dayanidhi Maran, was not encouraging. The media reports about Stalin’s agenda and campaign being entirely devised and carried out by his son-in-law Sabareesh only strengthened the public’s fears about family domination.
The rout of the ‘other alternatives’ is not difficult to explain. The combination of DMDK hero-clown Vijayakanth and the MDMK’s puratchi puyal (revolutionary leader) Vaiko was fatal for the two Communists, who are themselves unable to find any mornings in the Dravidian land all these decades despite dabbling in agrarian fiascos in the Cauvery delta and elsewhere.
And the Dalit leader Thirumavalavan visibly seemed off-mood, most of the time, in their company while TMC’s Vasan was a last-minute add-in to the kichadi. The voters are not fools to waste their franchise.
For Captain and Vaiko, the future does not seem clear. The former’s wife Premalatha could be of tougher mettle. What she lacks in maturity she makes up in her decibel levels, and people at times like high-pitched rhetoric, particularly coming from the fairer sex.
PMK’s Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is a man to watch. 2021 will be exciting for this young chief ministerial candidate. His campaign against tobacco, liquor and freebies and the promises of better education and employment, have gone down well, particularly with the younger generation.
But unfortunately, this segment is not yet willing itself to participate whole hog in the electoral process, choosing instead to stay at home or hang out in movie halls. If the situation changes and if the PMK is able to shake off its tag of being just a Vanniyar party of the northern districts, Anbumani could be a serious candi-
date. The less said about Seeman, the better.
