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Win-win for all?

The editorial "Time to deliver on promises" (May 12) on the Tamil Nadu poll outcome succinctly drives home the ground reality.

As a seasoned party, the DMK should provide good governance and work as a team with allies. The AIADMK should set a healthy example by being a constructive Opposition. The Congress, besides being a responsible coalition partner, should leverage on the gains reaped and, more importantly, get over its tendency of becoming a victim of intra-party rivalries. The DMDK has a bright future. Overall, the outcome is a decisive victory for the democratic traditions of Tamil Nadu and, in a broader perspective, a win-win situation for all the parties.

Sumitra Raghavan,
Chennai

The people of Tamil Nadu were famous for giving decisive verdicts, which were always interpreted as anti-incumbency. This time they have voted for both the major parties. Which means they are not happy with either but want to give a chance to both. The election has thrown up many firsts — a strong Opposition, and support to the State Government from representatives of a party in power at the Centre, for instance.

K. Panchapagesan,
New Jersey

Though the AIADMK has lost power its defeat is not humiliating, considering the DMK's rainbow alliance. Its leader and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa made a serious mistake by aligning with the BJP post-2001. Her personal attack on Congress leader Sonia Gandhi during election 2004 and the ban on forcible religious conversions led to a decline in her popularity.

B. Sai Karthikeya,
Hyderabad

The people have rewarded the AIADMK too, particularly in Chennai. The DMK Government should carry forward the good work done by the Jayalalithaa Government.

S.S. Ram Murugan,
Hyderabad

The electorate has voted for adequate checks and balances by giving the AIADMK a solid presence in the Assembly. With the DMK in power, the Centre-State relationship, it is hoped, will be cordial.

The new Government should direct its energies towards constructive programmes and Ms. Jayalalithaa should conduct herself as a mature leader of the Opposition.

K.S. Ravichandran,
Coimbatore

That the AIADMK won 61 seats against the DMK's 96, and lost in many constituencies by a thin margin of votes, despite the Jayalalithaa Government's handling of many sensitive issues and the government employees' strike, shows that its measures such as rain water harvesting, constitution of women's self-help groups, the Veeranam water project, and economic policies were duly recognised by the people.

M. Bhuvaneswari,

Chennai

The two Dravidian parties are clearly losing their hold on the electorate, making way for the Congress, the PMK, the Left, and the MDMK.

Even after announcing mega size freebies, the DMK and the AIADMK could not get a majority on their own. They should strive hard to win over the people's hearts, not by offering freebies but by fulfilling their needs.
S. Sekar,
Chennai

In spite of the din produced by the parties, the elector has exercised his right better than ever before. The biggest positive outcome is the narrow margin that will keep the victor on his toes and the loser expecting to do better. The two main parties must bury the hatchet and work together in the interest of the State.

K.R.A. Narasiah,
Chennai

With the latest election, the last citadel against coalition politics in southern India has fallen. All these years, it was the Congress high command that wooed the State leadership — MGR, Karunanidhi or Jayalalithaa — for electoral alliance.

Thanks to the voters, the Congress has emerged a kingmaker from being a piggyback rider. The people of Tamil Nadu are unlikely to get justice in the Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar, and Palar disputes, at least in the near future.

S. Anbalagan,
Kumbakonam, T.N.

The results show that the days of charismatic leadership sweeping the polls are gone and coalition politics has come to stay. There is a lesson in the verdict for Ms. Jayalalithaa.

Raji Mani,
Mumbai

The results clearly show the AIADMK did not lose the elections because of its policies but only because it was on the wrong side of arithmetic. A last-minute strategic move would have reversed the electoral fortunes. Vijayakant's DMDK, which amazed all political commentators, could have quite easily run the winning lap for the AIADMK in this relay of coalitions.

Kumar Raman,
Chennai

Looking at the way things are going right for the Left, it appears the communists may lead the next coalition of the third front at the Centre. In Tamil Nadu, in spite of good governance and post-2004 pro-people policies, the AIADMK has been shown the door. It seems the voters have not forgotten the government strike and the Sankaracharya episode.

Raghubir Singh,
Pune

I wonder whether the Congress and the BJP can still be called national parties. They already had a thin presence in different States and the Assembly elections have reduced it further. Although there may be several reasons for their setback and the Left's progress I believe it is more because of the image of the communist candidates, which is less sullied.

P.V. Maiya,
Bangalore

Many speak about the resurgence of the Congress and the communist parties in Tamil Nadu. But the votes they polled are potential DMK votes. The real progress or decline of the Congress and the Left parties in Tamil Nadu can be assessed only when they contest on their own.

M.B. Reginald Prithiviraj,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

The BJP's dismal performance shows that the national party may soon become a regional party. It must conduct a soul-searching exercise and understand that mere rhetoric will not help any more. It is now or never.

S. Kannan,
Chennai

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