Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Rival camps keep confidence level high

K.V. Prasad

Rebel candidates may make the difference in Corporation polls

COIMBATORE: Alliances headed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) are trying to keep their confidence level high by claiming that they have done well in the Coimbatore Corporation elections. Winning a majority is vital as councillors will have to vote the Mayor this time because of the scrapping of direct elections to the post.

Thin margins

Possibilities of wafer thin margins of victory or even losses owing to rebel candidates marked a suspense-filled Tuesday, a day before the counting of votes on Wednesday. Both alliances are optimistic of winning the mayorship also. While the AIADMK sources say that the party will get the mayorship as it is sure of winning a majority in the Council, the Democratic Progressive Alliance led by the DMK is likely to announce on Wednesday whether the Coimbatore Mayor's post will be for itself or for an ally.

Out of the six Corporations - Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Salem and Tirunelveli -- the DMK has decided to contest for four and give two to the allies. While party sources are certain that the DMK will take Chennai and Madurai, they are not clear about Coimbatore. The DMK has contested from 37 wards and its rival, AIADMK, from 57 wards. The DMK's ally Congress has contested from 19 wards and the AIADMK's ally, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, from 13 wards. Sources in the AIADMK say that the party is clear on contesting for the post if it wins a majority. It is also confident of winning more than 35 wards. They also point out that out of the 37 the DMK has contested, its official candidates had faced the threat of vote split from the rebel candidates. So is the case with the Congress. This, the sources say, may have worked to the advantage of the AIADMK.

DMK worries

While the DMK is not worried over the fewer number of seats it has contested, as the combined strength of the alliance in the Council only will matter, a source in the party admits that the threat of split votes is real and that it cannot be wished away.

"We are sure of getting the Mayor's post," says AIADMK's Coimbatore East MLA and former Mayor T. Malaravan. "We have done some good work in the city and our alliance is not in disarray over the choice of contestants as the rival camp is".

But, DMK sources are confident that the people will have voted for its alliance in the interest of development in the city.

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