Tamil Nadu:Paper work for by-polls begins

(December 15, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Now it’s a pitched triangular battle among the ruling DMK, its opposition AIADMK, and the DMDK in the Tirumangalam Assembly seat in Madurai district where by-poll is to be held in January.

Today, as the nominations for the by-poll started, political parties were busy in selecting the prospective candidates for winning the constituency.

The results of this by-poll have become significant for the parties for it would have an impact on the Lok Sabha elections which are slated next year.

Necessitated by the death of the M L A Veera Ilavarasan of MDMK, the by-election is considered a litmus test for the ruling front.

Earlier, Veera Ilavarasan of MDMK won the seat by a margin of over 5,000 votes by defeating DMK’s Velusamy. He was also held under POTA for organising a meeting for Vaiko.

AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, who wanted to field her party’s nominee to test her popularity before the Lok Sabha polls, had requested MDMK chief Vaiko to leave the seat for her party, which was immediately accepted by him.

However, Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi described the action as prostrating. AIADMK has already been electioneering for the by-poll by making an issue out of the steep hike in prices of essential commodities, which had not fallen even after prices of petrol and diesel had come down.

The irregularities in the distribution of free TV, bias in the distribution of house site pattas and LPG stoves have been used as stick to attack the ruling party with.

Further, the attack on AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa during her visit to Pasumpon Thevar memorial in October was also used by the party cadres to bring to public notice that even leaders were not safe in the State.

Meanwhile, Left parties such as CPI (M), CPI have thrown their weight behind AIADMK for the by-poll. For the DMK, the organisational skills of Karunanidhi’s elder son M K Azhagiri would be also under test as he would be heading the party campaign.

He had tasted success in the earlier by-elections. The DMK would highlight its achievements, including better infrastructure facilities and amenities in the constituency.

MDMK leader Vaiko has started campaigning for the AIADMK by holding the party workers’ meeting and urging them to work for the victory of the party candidate. The parties are likely to announce their candidates in a few days time.

Significantly, DMDK which is yet to disclose their alliance partners for the Lok Sabha also showed their strength for the party leader belongs to Madurai district.

Land Reforms Department assistant commissioner Ramachandran has been designated as electoral officer for the by-poll.

District Collector P Seetharaman inspected the counting centre yesterday and held a detailed discussion with the officials regarding the arrangements.

There were 1,55,647 voters in the constituency and 190 polling booths would be installed, he said. The Collector appealed to all the political parties to cooperate with the administration in holding the elections peacefully.

Interestingly, two by-elections after the 2006 Assembly polls had been won by the DMK and its ally Congress. - Sri Lanka Guardian