Tiruvarur: Cyclone fury could affect AIADMK’s prospects
Turf Stronghold Of DMK, But Parties Must Prove Mettle Sans Karuna, Jaya
B Sivakumar & R Gokul | TNN 01.01.2019
Cyclone Gaja that wrought devastation in the delta districts, tardy relief besides a whole host of issues, including corruption charges against the ruling dispensation, are likely to influence the outcome of the January 28 Tiruvarur byelection. The constituency has largely favoured the DMK with former party president M Karunanidhi contesting and winning the constituency twice. But, the contest would be a tough one and a precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, just a few months away.
It will be an action-packed byelection, considering that the key players like the DMK, AIADMK and AMMK would be testing their strength after the death of leaders J Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. If estranged DMK leader M K Alagiri decides to play spoilsport, he could prove to be a headache for the DMK.
Soon after the EC’s announcement on Monday, the DMK and AIADMK asked candidates interested in contesting to submit applications.
Later, DMK president M K Stalin told reporters that the Tiruvarur byelection would be a cakewalk for his party. “We have a definite strategy and the support of other parties. We are sure about the issues that have to be raised during campaign,” Stalin told reporters at the party headquarters in Chennai, where he held a meeting with senior party leaders. DMK won seven times from Tiruvarur, the CPM five times and the Congress once.
With the delta districts including Tiruvaur limping back to normalcy after the cyclone, distressed voters, especially farmers, are likely to make their choices depending on how smooth the disbursal of relief was in their region. “Until Monday, nearly 30% of the citizens of the constituency had not received any relief or compensation from the government. With the model code of conduct coming into force, it is not clear whether relief work can be taken up,” said a senior officer, seeking anonymity. Unlike the 2016 assembly election, when the DMK had only Congress and IUML for company, the party will now have the support of the CPI and CPM, which have a considerable support base in the constituency. “The CPM is with the DMK for the Lok Sabha elections. We will definitely support the DMK for the Tiruvarur byelection as well,” said former CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan.
DMK workers in the constituency are upbeat. The party’s Tiruvarur district secretary Poondi K Kalaivanan said, “Our party has a strong base here. It is an additional strength for us that our leader (Karunanidhi) won here twice. He is still the hero in Tiruvarur.” The ruling AIADMK was quick to organize a meeting with functionaries. Food minister R Kamaraj who is also the party’s Tiruvarur district secretary, met key functionaries to discuss strategy.
AMMK’s Tiruvarur district secretary S Kamaraj said his party had already begun work.
CROWD FAVOURITE:
The DMK has won seven times from Tiruvarur, with M Karunanidhi contesting and winning twice
Turf Stronghold Of DMK, But Parties Must Prove Mettle Sans Karuna, Jaya
B Sivakumar & R Gokul | TNN 01.01.2019
Cyclone Gaja that wrought devastation in the delta districts, tardy relief besides a whole host of issues, including corruption charges against the ruling dispensation, are likely to influence the outcome of the January 28 Tiruvarur byelection. The constituency has largely favoured the DMK with former party president M Karunanidhi contesting and winning the constituency twice. But, the contest would be a tough one and a precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, just a few months away.
It will be an action-packed byelection, considering that the key players like the DMK, AIADMK and AMMK would be testing their strength after the death of leaders J Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. If estranged DMK leader M K Alagiri decides to play spoilsport, he could prove to be a headache for the DMK.
Soon after the EC’s announcement on Monday, the DMK and AIADMK asked candidates interested in contesting to submit applications.
Later, DMK president M K Stalin told reporters that the Tiruvarur byelection would be a cakewalk for his party. “We have a definite strategy and the support of other parties. We are sure about the issues that have to be raised during campaign,” Stalin told reporters at the party headquarters in Chennai, where he held a meeting with senior party leaders. DMK won seven times from Tiruvarur, the CPM five times and the Congress once.
With the delta districts including Tiruvaur limping back to normalcy after the cyclone, distressed voters, especially farmers, are likely to make their choices depending on how smooth the disbursal of relief was in their region. “Until Monday, nearly 30% of the citizens of the constituency had not received any relief or compensation from the government. With the model code of conduct coming into force, it is not clear whether relief work can be taken up,” said a senior officer, seeking anonymity. Unlike the 2016 assembly election, when the DMK had only Congress and IUML for company, the party will now have the support of the CPI and CPM, which have a considerable support base in the constituency. “The CPM is with the DMK for the Lok Sabha elections. We will definitely support the DMK for the Tiruvarur byelection as well,” said former CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan.
DMK workers in the constituency are upbeat. The party’s Tiruvarur district secretary Poondi K Kalaivanan said, “Our party has a strong base here. It is an additional strength for us that our leader (Karunanidhi) won here twice. He is still the hero in Tiruvarur.” The ruling AIADMK was quick to organize a meeting with functionaries. Food minister R Kamaraj who is also the party’s Tiruvarur district secretary, met key functionaries to discuss strategy.
AMMK’s Tiruvarur district secretary S Kamaraj said his party had already begun work.
CROWD FAVOURITE:
The DMK has won seven times from Tiruvarur, with M Karunanidhi contesting and winning twice
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