Chennai: It is just another 55 days to go for the May 16 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry. But the political hide and seek key players in the politics of this combined topography play, has for the first time in recent electoral history, brought to the fore that even entrenched parties are out to seize what may be called the ‘alliance juggernaut’. For they hope it would steamroll them into a decent majority in the 234-member State Assembly.
Though even one day can be too long in politics, actor and DMDK-founder Vijayakanth’s decision to go it alone in the polls, amid key players including the DMK, BJP and the four-party People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA) — inclusive of the Vaiko-led MDMK, CPI, CPI(M) and Dalit leader Thol. Thirumavalavan headed VCK, has made the silhouette of this juggernaut even more elusive.
The other notable player, OBC Vanniayrs-based Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) by upfront announcing its Chief Ministerial candidate, in Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, has sought to place itself as the presiding deity in that juggernaut, in a State where alliances have historically been a combination of various caste group interests.
The nonagenarian DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi is still hoping that the political prodigal son Vijayakanth will return to the ‘Tiruvarur Rath’, as the actor has hardly any other option after declaring that the Ms Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK “should be unseated”. The PWA coordinator, Mr Vaiko will also be only happy if Vijayakanth joins their alliance. The potential of a ‘subaltern hero’ Vijayakanth still holds among a broad section of the electorate and the 8 per cent to 10 per cent votes DMDK is believed to command to provide the necessary edge in a multi-cornered contest, is what has deepened the search for a “viable alliance juggernaut”. This time, everyone wants to be ‘King’ and that is making this search all the more tedious. Hopefully, Tamil Nadu should not suffer.
