Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Assembly poll: Of pre-set preference, varied viewpoints

Mohamed Imranullah S.

A hint of the way Madurai votes will go

MADURAI: With only a day to go for polling to the Assembly elections 2006, almost every discussion — at home, workplace or a hangout — is never complete without a reference to the D-day, which falls on May 8.

Right from an unskilled worker to a doctor, everybody is anxious to know the poll outcome. There is no way to escape the election fever with party flags fluttering at conspicuous locations such as signal posts and hoardings. Even discourses in temples, mosques, churches and other religious institutions have been stressing on the need to elect a "good" government.

People belonging to different strata have their own perception of elections and political parties in the fray.

Many belonging to the lower income group refuse to accept any other party than the two arch rivals, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam; while a majority of the middle class look up to the latest entrant, actor Vijayakant, and his political outfit, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

"For the past 25 years, I've always voted for the same party, no matter whether it fulfils its poll promises or not. But, till date nobody knows that I am a staunch supporter of the party," says proudly, E. Gopal, (47), a mason. The reaction from M. Soundaravalli (38), a housewife, is quite different. She claims to have not voted even once in her lifetime. "I am going to vote in this elections for the first time and my choice is actor Vijayakant."

Longing for Lok Paritran

Sipping his cup of `mocachillo' at a café shop, K. Guruprakash (21), a second-year commerce student, rues that Lok Paritran, the new political party founded by IITians, is not contesting all over the State. "Now that they are not in the fray, I am not going to vote."

Unlike others, the elite cautiously avoids divulging its opinion on elections with an easy answer: "no comments!"

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