The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Third front affects AIADMK in Mangalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Third front affects AIADMK in Mangalore

By A.V. Ragunathan

CHIDAMBARAM, MAY 13. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate, V. Ganesan, romped home comfortably in the Mangalore Assembly constituency, defeating his closest rival, K. Ramalingam of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, by a margin of 13,886 votes. While Mr .Ganesan polled 61,956 votes, Mr. Ramalingam got 48,070 votes.

The Janata Dal (United) candidate, P. Karuppasamy, who contested on the "Arrow" symbol, secured 26,433 votes. The victory of Mr. Ganesan has acquired significance, because it is for the first time that a by-election has gone against the ruling AIADMK.

The by-election was necessitated as the Dalit Panthers of India leader, Thol.Thirumavalavan (who won it on the "rising sun" symbol), resigned the seat and chose to contest in the Chidambaram parliamentary constituency.

Mr. Ganesan told The Hindu that the verdict had clearly established the fact that the people were still remembering the good deeds of the previous DMK regime, and at the same time had not forgotten the anti-people policies of the ruling AIADMK.

Mr. Ganesan said he would focus his attention on three areas: water, roads and transport. To tide over water scarcity in the constituency, he would put up handpumps in villages, and improve village roads to facilitate smooth travelling.

The Dalits forming a third front and contesting election on the common symbol of "arrow" had altered the political formations, and had caused a serious setback to the AIADMK chances. For, the third front had severely eroded the votes in the rural areas that should have either gone to the DMK or to the AIADMK.

Had the DPI stayed on with the DMK alliance, as had been stated on many an occasion by Thol.Thirumavalavan, (but could not do so on the grounds of principles) the margin of victory for Mr. Ganesan would have been far greater. There was also an opinion that Mr Thirumavalavan had miscalculated his prospects by quitting the Mangalore Assembly seat and contesting the Chidambaram parliamentary constituency.

A section of the Dalits feels that had Mr. Thirumavalavan continued to be an MLA, at least they would have their voice heard in the Assembly. But in his defeat, the Dalits had lost the leverage, and moreover, it would take a long time for them to mend fences with any of the leading political parties to take up their causes.

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