Bypolls score over LS polls in TN as DMK, AIADMK vie for Fort St George

Even as Tamil Nadu is all set to go for a single-phase parliamentary elections on April 18, for the two major Dravidian parties, it’s the bypolls to the 22 seats that matter more. While by-elections to 18 seats would take place alongside the general elections, bypolls for the remaining four seats will take place on May 19. The outcome of the elections to these Assembly constituencies will determine the longevity of the incumbent government. Currently, the EPS government is surviving on a wafer-thin majority in the Assembly.

All the 18 constituencies are poised for a three-cornered fight involving the DMK, the AAIADMK and the AMMK. Even though the Makkal Needhi Maiyyam (MNM) and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) are in the fray for both the Lok Sabha elections and the bypolls, they are not seriously taken by their rivals.

Among the 18 constituencies, Perambur has the highest number of contestants (40) in the fray and Gudiyatham (SC) has the lowest at 7. Jayanthi, the only woman candidate from AMMK, is contesting from Gudiyatham. Though each constituency has its own set of issues, problems like lack of permanent housing for slum dwellers, agricultural distress, unemployment, water scarcity are common to all.

The DMK is strong in constituencies like Perambur, Thirupporur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Poonamallee. The AIADMK is a force to reckon with in Sholingur, Pappireddipatti, Nilakottai, Manamadurai, Andipatti, Periyakulam, Sattur, Paramakudi and Vilathikulam. It is to be noted that both the parties have won more than twice in all the above mentioned constituencies.

In the remaining constituencies of Gudiyatham, Ambur, Hosur and Harur, the left parties and the Congress have had an upper hand in the past. Going by the alliance arithmetic, the DMK has an edge over its rival.

However, in 2016, the AIADMK won 17 seats in these constituencies. Out of the 18 constituencies, Periyakulam and Andipatti are the two seats that witnessed high drama in the last one month. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) represented Periyakulam in 2001. Incidentally, TTV Dhinakaran made his electoral debut from the same constituency in 1999, when he got elected for the Lok Sabha.

OPS was a protégé of Dhinakaran until they parted ways in 2017.

Initially, the AIADMK declared Murugan as its candidate but replaced him with M Mayilvel after the cadres rebelled against the decision.

The rival AMMK candidate Kathir Kamu too got embroiled in a sex scandal, which he blamed on the AIADMK. Incidentally, Kathir Kamu is a former AIADMK man.

In Andipatti, a day before the elections, the I-T department seized ₹ 1.48 crores, kept in the AMMK’s office, for distributing among voters. Ahead of the seizure there was a scuffle between the supporters of the AMMK and the authorities. Police had to open fire to bring the situation under control.

Another interesting feature of the bypolls in Andipatti is that both the DMK and the AIADMK have fielded members of the same family. While A Lokirajan has been fielded by the AIADMK, his brother Maharajan has been chosen by the DMK.

In the last two decades, mostly the ruling party is the one which has romped home in by-elections. But given the fact that this election is crucial for the survival of the current dispensation, it is anybody’s guess which way the results would go.