By T.S. Venkatesan
The entire Bharat is gearing up to face to 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in Tamil Nadu, the political situation is mired in various issues right from inter party feuds to sewing of alliance talk preparations, forming strategies, strengthening booth level committees, taken on the anti -establishment wave against ruling DMK which are looming large in front of the major political parties.
As of now, unclear and uncertain situation prevails in almost all major political parties. In the ruling DMK led alliance headed by M K Stalin , India National Congress, Communist party of India (CPI) , CPI M , Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katch (VCK), MDMK , KMDK, IUML, MMK, MVK, TVK, ATP,
AIFB are alliance partners. In the opposite camp, AIADMK, PMK,BJP, TMC, TMMK, PDK, AIMMK, PTMK, PBK, MRMK are partners till the time of writing this article.
During the state Assembly polls in May, 2021 DMK made over 500 poll promises in its manifesto that including, abolition of NEET, blanket liquor ban, Rs. 1000 for family -women head , monthly meter reading of electricity consumption, LPG cylinder subsidy, reduction in petrol and diesel prices.
Waiver of education loans etc. On September 2021, Chief Minister MK Stalin informed that the government has fulfilled 202 of 505 electoral promises made by the DMK in a short span of four months after assuming office. AIADMK and BJP said “DMK rode to power by making false promises. While CM says 85 percent promises were fulfilled but his cabinet colleagues and seniors varying figures. They have not done anything”.
The DMK made a rejig by bringing a few and retaining the old timers in organisational set up in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. Sources close to the party say it may drop or force to go out some in the alliance like VCK, left and to accommodate PMK, a Vanniyar dominant outfit. Stalin after becoming the CM, started using new terms like “Dravidian Model Government, Dravidian stock government “. He also referred Union government as “Ondriya Arasu”.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said in January this year “ the term Union Government was ‘absolutely fine’ and can be used without any fear, but its Tamil translation of Ondriya Arasu, is ‘politically overloaded’ and is ‘disrespectful.’. TN Governor is exposing DMK’s lies on our culture, spiritual beliefs and debunking is false narratives on Drvidian-aryan theory a myth and his speeches have not gone well with the DMK. Ravi claimed that the British attempted to destroy India’s great spirituality by distorting Indian history and culture. accused Tamil scholar G U Pope of presenting a “de-spiritualised version” of the book while translating it into English. He accused G U Pope of translating with the colonial objective to “trivialise” the spiritual wisdom of India.
DMK, which earlier attacked the Governor with unchaste writings in its mouth piece, has nowBeen assigned the job to its allies. They are day in day out making highly condemnable utterances against the constitutional head. They mislead the people that the governor has been sitting on the bills without giving consent. He was humiliated in the state assembly when he was there to read the customary address on 9 th January this year. He omitted certain words like Dravidian Model, Ondriya Arasu etc that provoked DMK to pass resolution condemning his action. Stalin mentioned him in a third person single, while his partymen issued threats to him. Some called him, RSS stooge, Pan chewing mouth wala, panipuri seller etc.
The undefeatable government Governor undeterred by such behaviour of the DMK carried his duties in a dignified manner wining the hearts of the people. He is learning Tamil language brings him to closer to Tamils.
CM Stalin , during his life, wants anoint his son Udhayanidhi Stalin in the CM gaddy. The actor (?) cum- film distributor turned politician was made youth wing chief. He contested and won from Chepauk assembly segment and was made sports and youths affairs minister. It proved the party is moving towards Dynasty of family politics.
Many veterans and cadres who have toiled for the growth and victory of the party are unhappy. It is alleged that the key decisions including tender allotments are being made by his family members including his wife, son-in-law Sabareesan, who is now into multibillion real estate business magnet and Udhayanidhi Stalin. Seniors like Durai Murugan, TR Baalu, K N Nehru, I Periyasamy, it is learnt, feel that they are not given due respect both in party and in government. Stalin never heeds their advices considering their long political experience.
The recent vandalisation of Senior Minister K N Nehru cadres on RS MP Tiruchy Siva’s residence, his SUV, two wheelers have reinforced the simmering discontent and factional feuds in the party. Nehru’s supporters also ransacked the police station and attacked a women constable badly.
An eyewash action, DMK suspended only 4 instead over 20 who resorted to violence. The manifold hike of property taxes, indirect increase in milk and dairy products, electricity consumption charges have irked the public. The cash strapped Stalin government is purely dependent on the income from liquor sales which is over 35,000 crore in a year. Tipplers are angry
over the frequent price hike of their cup of drinks. Many want this incompetent government should go at the earliest.
Now there are visible Tamils vs Telugu MLAs in the state. Stalin, Nehru, sekar Babu , KKSSR Ramachandran and there are MPS. In the cabinet there are Telugu speaking Ministers. This has come to open when telugu speaking Nehru’s supporters attacked Tamil speaking Siva’s house.
DMK which vehemently opposed the presence of Hindi speaking north Indian migrant workers before polls, now has a changed mind. When news about migrant workers were being targeted and circulation of videos, audios, crowds in Railway stations, forced Stalin government to issue warning notice in Hindi to rumour mongers. Mind you -DMK has been grousing against Hindi imposition. It wished them in Hindu on the occasion Holi celebrations. It took special outreach programmes to build confidence and enumeration of migrant work force in the state.
There has been visible change in Udhaya Nidhi Stalin‘s speech and actions after meeting PM on a one to one basis recently. The DMK cadres are happy politicians who defected from arch rival AIADMK were largely accommodated in the cabinet not considering the old horses During the nearly 2-year DMK rule, over 200 Hindu temples were razed to ground. Former Union minister TR Baalu in candid admission that he pulled down centuries old three temples while he was the minister. He said this without remorse.
Permissions were denied to install Vinayagar idols, immersion processions, interference in temple rituals, appointment non Brahmin as Archakas (priests) not allowing tri color national flag march during this year independence day, cheap and unchaste attack on BJP leaders including PM Modi, HM Amit shah, Governor Ravi, resumption of demands separate Tamil state ,rising crime graph including crimes on women , free access to fundamentalist, secessionist forces, turning blind eye to conversion, love and land jihads are unacceptable to peace loving hindus. They are now rallying behind BJP.
Stalin, Speaker of Assembly M Appavu, junior minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, IT minister Mano Thangaraj openly claim it your (Christian ) government and all your demands would met without any hassle. Udhyanidhi Stalin said his wife is a Christian and so be he. Hindu Religious and charitable endowment Minister Sekar babu while attending a Christian function shouted Alleluya Alleluya Alleyluya thrice.
Out of the over 8.51 lakh students registered 12th public examination, 49 thousand 599 students did not appear for the language test. Similarly, out of 8 thousand 901 students who registered as individual candidates, 1 thousand 115 students did not write the language test. They aregovernment students who skipped Tamil test. But the government, which is opposing NEP and ballyhooing champion and protoctor , promotor of Tamil language. About 47,000 out of 9 lakh students failed the Tamil language paper in the last year Class 10 state board exam results. For them this may be the development. In TN Opposition leader Edapadi K Palaniswamy moved a special call attention motion alleging irregularities in TNPSC examination results.
Opposing centre in all fronts, proposing Rahul Gandhi as PM candidacy, rampant all round corruption and failures are not viewed well by the public. Allowing rabid hindu phobic elements to go full throttle unhindered and biased action against Hindu outfit leaders through its policy machinery were viewed as a negatives by the majority community.
The congress wants to cash in on the disqualification of Raghul Gandhi to create sympathy by showing him a martyr. But considering his past faux paus no one believe him and support him despite media boosting him a victim of Modi sarkar.
There are speculations that DMK may shed the deadwoods like VCK, left , MDMK only to accommodate PMK . DMK never contested any poll without alliance in its 60 plus year existence. The coming lok sabha poll , given the anti government mood, all round failures, polarisation of Hindus would not be a cake walk. Its is dream of winning 40 out of 40 will remain a day dream, says political observers. Moreover, Stalin has no control over his party cadres. This will be a major issue while selection of candidates. DMK wants to improvised Erode formula- giving freebies in cash and
kind, keep them in temporary tents with briyani and daily batta of 500 to one thousand to each voter. The DMK has a history of factional feuds with regional satraps vying with each other to control the party’s district units.
EPS said that atrocities of DMK partymen were growing with each passing day causing fear among people. He said “neither the party nor the government administration is under the control of the party chief”.
PMK which has tried its poll chances by contesting alone and could not win a single seat, is now considering to join DMK led alliance ditching AIADMK-BJP alliance. Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) led by pro LTTE supporter and Tamil nationalist, Seeman @ Sebastian is trying to make inroads by his oratorical skills. The yester year cine director stood elections without
any alliance.
One of his partymen who recently said “Seeman contesting alone in all constituencies is only to get funds from DMK and AIADMK. He would announce weak candidates or withdraw candidates to ensure victory of opponents from whom he got money. He is not a serious player in the electoral arena. Of course he is making a dent in the vote share of the Dravidian majors. He is known for his consistent inconsistent statement everything under the sun. He has been booked for making statement on migrant workers instigation violence.
The left parties’ position is no difference from the rest of the country. In the last Lok Sabha elections they won six seats in Tamil Nadu thanks to their alliance with the DMK. They were paid Rs.25 crores each to meet poll expenses and indebted to it for not making any criticism.
In the AIADMK, the two factions led former CMs mulling to establish supremacy over the party cadres. The AIADMK has been following a dual-leadership formula with EPS as co-coordinator and OPS as coordinator, since the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 2016. After the demise of Jayalalitha, the party does not have charismatic and mass leaders in the party. Now both factions one led by former CM Edapadi K Palaniswamy and other is led by former CM O Panneerselvam are vying to control over the party. They moved SC to claim the party control.
The SC recognised the general council meet but failed to approve the resolutions passed in it. It put the ball back to Madras HC to hear afresh. It failed to settle the dispute once for all at its arena. Armed with HC order, now EPS has become its general secretary with more power. Will he bring back unity among all groups and his moves to coalesce the coalition arithmetic successfully to win in the coming elections? We have to wait till 2024 polls.
It is alleged that EPS with money power is able to retain majority of the senior leaders, EC members in his fold. But OPS is hoping the court would come to his rescue. The Madras High Court on 19th allowed the conduct of the long-awaited election to the AIADMK general secretary post as
scheduled on March 26. However, it said the results shall not be declared as it will take up on March 22 the hearing of a plea by the O Pannneerselvam camp against the party’s July 11, 2022 General Council decisions, that among others expelled them.
The tone and tenare of EPS and his supporters indicate that they want to lead the alliance in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and BJP will have to accept the seats offered to them. Also an attempt to force the BJP to go out of the alliance. AIADMK faction led by EPS thinks with the favourable
court verdict and two leave symbols winning the chances of its own will be bright given the displeasure for the ruling DMK. In the just concluded Erode East by-poll ,it was a defeated with a big margin. DMK alliance supported Congress candidate won the polls.
EPS faction could not digest aggressive opposition role played by TN state BJP chief K Annamalai, his way of handling the pro DMK press, coming out with protests of protests against Stalin goverment, huge turn outs for his
meetings and programmes, particularly youths are drawn towards him . The Dravidian parties who do not want BJP to bloom in the state at any cost as it would drive a death knell to their political carrier carbine. Though the two Dravidian majors have differences of opinions and dislike for each
other, but they think alike in not allowing BJP to gain foothold in the so called Periyar soil.
The BJP top leaders insists the unity of the both factions to give a tough challenge to the DMK and to win a good chunk of seats from Tamil nadu to offset losses it may incur in some northern pockets. “Annamalai style of functioning in the last three years made the party to grow leaves and bounds. His predecessors were playing second fiddle either to DMK or AIADMK instead of growth of the party . Now people from other parties are joining the saffron party in large numbers. The efforts of opposition mainly the DMK efforts like corner him with question after questions during press
conference to make him loose temper failed mostly. Honey trap and sting operations also failed to black mail him. Threats like arrests also did not deter him.
Annamalai has been upset over the leaving of some women cadre and release of sting operations involving his supporters. He feels DMK, EPS and some party insiders who do not his leading the party to the next level. Knowing this , some key leaders and former presidents were moved out of
the state with governor posts and national level assignments.
On 18th Annamalai dropped a bomb shell by saying he was not for alliance with the AIADMK and if forced he would step down from the president ship of the party. Speaking at a party state level functionaries meet in Chennai “ i will offer to resign as president, if the BJP is to continue its alliance
with the AIADMK for the 2024 elections” . It is learnt he was asked by Delhi to soft peddle on attacking the AIADMK faction led by EPS. His supporters to your correspondent that he made this statement only to boost the morale of the party and if continued to play second fiddle BJP would be reduced to a letter pad party in Tamil Nadu. We should remember what had happened to Congress which ruled the state before DMK came.” He said “ I am firm on marching towards clean politics. If I
have to change otherwise, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t require such politics. I don’t want to comment on the style of other political parties and its leaders. My two-year political stint has shown me that time has come for clean politics and there is room for acceptance. I can’t decide on the alliance and the decision will be taken by the party high comman”.
But BJP MLAs Nainar Nagendran and Vanathi Srinivasan spoke outside the party forum that Annamalai had to follow the party line and on his own. Alliance would be finalised by the leaders at Delhi. They said it is an ultimatum to the party’s national leadership to break the alliance. His
statement came in the backdrop of ongoing tussle between the two parties. Annamalai had already informed Delhi about this over the phone and wants to meet to discuss the same. It is learnt he would be meeting PM on 27 th in Chennai. Annamalai’s followers feel the senior leaders should not have commented on Annamalai’s views. A senior journalist wrote that he made it to the public, cadres and AIADMK to know the BJP should negotiate from a position of strength if not in the electoral field, in the backrooms political muscle flexing. He said Annamalai wants to be more assertive as much with his leadership as with his difficulty ally.
This sudden development makes his proposed April 14 th state wide yatra to boost the morale of the cadre in question. It is to expose the alleged corruption of the DMK . BJP national leaders is schedule to finalise alliance talks in November this year.
For now, Brand Modi seems to have escaped into the political stratosphere, untouched by the conventional laws of political competition. He has created one of the most powerful political brands in India’s history. This USP to make a hat trick at the national level and the TN BJP will cash in on
this to considerable seats in the state irrespective alliance it leads or part of it .