The Hindu : DPA counts on Vaiko, Chidambaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

DPA counts on Vaiko, Chidambaram

By S. Annamalai

MADURAI, MARCH 15. The Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) is keen on using a `double-barrel' gun in electioneering in southern districts. While ammunition, in the form of Vaiko, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, has been loaded into one of the barrels, the other one is waiting for P. Chidambaram, Congress Jananayaka Peravai leader.

Though the DPA constituents feel comfortable with their "arithmetic superiority" over the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-Bharatiya Janata Party combine in the region, which has traditionally demonstrated a preference for `Two Leaves', they think that they will be able to match the "money power" of the ruling party only with lung-power. Mr. Vaiko, who is expected to shoulder the burden of electioneering in the south, will be able to strike a sympathetic chord with the masses, they argue. They do not want to remain complacent over the arithmetic superiority and a perceived anti-incumbency factor.

Targeting neutral voters

To consolidate pro-DPA votes, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies want to persuade "neutral voters", around 20 per cent, who have been reluctant to exercise their franchise in successive elections. They also want to capitalise on the "anti-ruling party mood" among government employees who last July struck work and faced action.Traders are also unhappy over the State government's reluctance to restore the single-point tax system and tax exemption for some essential commodities. The DPA constituents firmly believe that Mr. Chidambaram will be able to appeal to the "neutral segment."

But even Congress leaders in the south are not sure whether his touring the districts extensively, as he did tour during the 2001 Assembly elections, will be influenced by chances of his contesting the Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat. E. M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, member of the 13th Lok Sabha from Sivaganga, says he will wholeheartedly campaign for Mr. Chidambaram if the high command nominates him in the constituency. However, Congressmen in Sivaganga want Mr. Chidambaram to work towards regaining power in the State.

The former Union Minister has been insisting in recent months that the Congress steer clear of the two major Dravidian parties in the 2004 Lok Sabha election to revive Kamaraj rule in Tamil Nadu in 2006.

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