The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : AIADMK victory

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Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

AIADMK victory

This refers to the AIADMK's victory in the by-elections to the Assembly constituencies of Gummidipoondi and Kancheepuram. Ever since the party suffered a rout in the parliamentary elections of 2004, the AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has undertaken several course corrections in matters of governance. She withdrew unpopular measures with respect to government employees, rolled back the increase in electricity tariff, and took stern measures to check video piracy. She discreetly placated Dravidian sentiments by distancing herself from the BJP, objecting to the imposition of Hindi, and taking bold decisions in the Sankararaman murder case.

P.S. Desikan,
Chennai

The verdict has proved that the voters of Tamil Nadu are discerning and mature. It was Ms. Jayalalithaa's alliance with the BJP and her vituperative campaign against Sonia Gandhi that proved disastrous for the party during the last general election. Obviously, the people have changed their minds now.

Joji Cherian,
Aluva, Kerala

The poll result may be an indicator of the growing discontentment of the people of Tamil Nadu with the UPA Government at the Centre or the increasing popularity of the AIADMK, not least because of its repeal of unpopular reforms.

But the DPA has to ask itself one question seriously — if the AIADMK could pull off the victory single-handed against a seven-party alliance, is not something wrong somewhere?

J. Eden Alexander,
Thanjavur, T.N.

The AIADMK's victory, in the face of adverse alliance arithmetic, is as much the result of good governance by the Jayalalithaa Government as of the systematic work done by the party cadre.

R. Shanmugam,
Chennai

The results have proved that Ms. Jayalalithaa's charisma has not waned. It is also a signal to the seven-party DPA that it is out of touch with ground realities. A significant feature of the by-elections was the high voter turnout. It shows the electorate is conscious of its duty to vote.

Raju Sakporthun,
Villupuram, T.N.

By giving a thumping victory to the ruling AIADMK, the voters of Gummidipoondi and Kancheepuram have endorsed Ms. Jayalalithaa's policies, especially with respect to the arrest of the two Sankaracharyas of the Sankara Mutt and the handling of the Sankararaman murder case.

K.R. Prem Kumar,
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

The rollback of some unpopular reforms was certainly one of the reasons for the AIADMK's victory. The Government's handling of relief post-tsunami earned it the goodwill of the electorate. The verdict proves that the outcome of any election depends on electoral chemistry and not on electoral arithmetic.

S. Sundara Srinivasan,
Madurai, T.N.

Ms. Jayalalithaa's relentless campaign against odds paid off. With a more democratic approach and pragmatic welfare measures, her party may pose a stiff challenge to the DPA in the 2006 elections.

S. Janakiraman,
Coimbatore

One major factor that contributed to the victory was the State Government's handling of the devastation caused by the tsunami. Also the people are convinced that in the Kanchi Mutt episode, it acted impartially.

K. Vasu,
Chennai

The editorial "Bouncing back in style" (May 17), which lists the reasons for the AIADMK's victory in the by-elections, has omitted an important factor that enhanced Ms. Jayalalithaa's standing as a leader — elimination of forest brigand Veerappan. The gruesome murder of the AIADMK Gummidipoondi MLA also created a sympathy wave that helped her party.

K.S. Srinivasan,
Chennai

The AIADMK has bounced back in style not because of its performance but thanks to the smugness of the Opposition, which was depending more on arithmetic than on facts to improve its prospects. As for the ruling party, it should not succumb to the temptation of advancing the 2006 Assembly elections on the basis of this verdict.

K. Suresh Krishnaa,
Chennai

Congratulations to the Election Commission that ensured free and fair elections in the two constituencies. The AIADMK owes its victory to the DPA for its inaction on the Cauvery waters issue and the setting up of a desalination plant in Chennai.

N. Mahadevan,
Chennai

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