The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Strong anti-incumbency in Tiruchi

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

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Strong anti-incumbency in Tiruchi

By Syed Muthahar

TIRUCHI, MAY 13. The thumping win of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) candidates in the three Lok Sabha constituencies in the central districts of Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Perambalur was on expected lines given the widespread disenchantment of farmers and the ordinary masses.

While the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's presidium chairman, L. Ganesan, won in Tiruchi constituency; the former Union Minister, A. Raja, and the former All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Minister, S. Ragupathy, both of the DMK; won from Perambalur (reserved) and Pudukottai constituencies.

The striking feature is that all the three trounced their AIADMK opponents with comfortable margins.

It was smooth sailing for Mr. Ganesan and he had to overcome only the problem of being branded as an "outsider."

As far as Mr. Ragupathy is concerned, with this win he not only re-emerged in the political scene of Pudukottai district, but also strengthened his position in the party. In the case of Perambalur, the rural masses supported Mr. Raja.

The reasons for the AIADMK's total rout are not far to seek. Strong anti-incumbency factor, the people's resentment over the `H' card concept, withdrawal of free power to farmers, government failure to combat persistent drought, coupled with the inability of the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party to put up a united show led to the combines' debacle.

Farmers, women, government employees and pensioners along with the other depressed sections and minorities turned against the party because of the government's "indifferent attitude" in addressing basic issues, according to a cross section of voters.

The government's inflexibility in handling the Cauvery issue, the Chief Minister's strident campaign against the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, which had not gone down well with the people, swept Ms. Jayalalithaa off her feet, they pointed out.

The economic liberalisation policies of the Centre, what with ban on recruitment in government departments and downsizing of staff strength contributed to a negative vote against the AIADMK.

Drought in the central districts added to the resentment and anger that already ran very deep. The ruling party has been rejected as much in urban areas as in villages. In the rural and pockets dominated by working class, the anti-AIADMK sentiments were palpable.

While the DMK chief and the other DPA leaders during electioneering kept raising the problems of farmers and depressed sections, the Chief Minister, a lone campaigner for the AIADMK combine, did not care to address these burning issues, much to the chagrin of the cadres.

It was also the poor strategy that did the AIADMK combine in. While the DMK-led alliance got its act together, there was no coordination in the AIADMK-BJP camp.

The BJP cadres who were sulking from the beginning at the non-allotment of the Tiruchi and Pudukottai seats to the party, were alienated further by the AIADMK's campaign strategy.

Moreover, the shabby treatment meted out to the Union Minister, S. Thirunavukkarasar, had its impact not only in the Pudukottai seat, but in the other two too.

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