[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]W[/dropcap]hen D Jayakumar, finance minister of Tamil Nadu rose in the Assembly on March 16 to present the 2017-2018 budget, he waxed eloquence on V K Sasikala, the general secretary of the ruling AIADMK undergoing imprisonment in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail following the apex court’s order upholding the lower court verdict in the Disproportionate Asset case. The minister acknowledging and praising the AIADMK general secretary drew instant wrath from the DMK, especially its leader M K Stalin who questioned the propriety of the minister’s action in flattering a person who has been convicted in a criminal case.
What stands out in the entire R K Nagar constituency is in resentment against Sasikala and her family members whom the AIADMK cadre blame for the untimely demise of Jayalalithaa.
Within a fortnight, the AIADMK, which has fielded TTV Dinakaran as its candidate at the R K Nagar assembly constituency for the April 12 by-election necessitated by the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa has made a volte face. The constituency does not spot even a single poster of Sasikala. Dinakaran, her nephew, does not mention her name even once in his campaign speeches. The whole focus is on the party’s new symbol Hat as the original symbol Two Leaves has been frozen by the Election Commission of India following claims and counter claims by the two factions of the AIADMK battling it out in the constituency.
This is what Team PGurus saw and heard during a whirlwind tour across R K Nagar constituency in the company of scribes from other newspapers and periodicals. What stands out in the entire R K Nagar constituency is in resentment against Sasikala and her family members whom the AIADMK cadre blame for the untimely demise of Jayalalithaa.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]hough Jayalalithaa too was an accused in the DA case, all the AIADMK followers with whom the PGurus communicated were unanimous in their view that Amma (as Jayalalithaa had been addressed) was dragged into the trap by certain elements. “Our Amma was the embodiment of truth and honesty. She was cheated by those who had surrounded her,” said Murugesan, a two-wheeler workshop owner in Tondiarpet. Other AIADMK activists merely echoed the words of Murugesan.
He also said that this election would prove which is the real AIADMK. “Amma’s soul is with us. We will win,” said Madhusoodanan, whose words resembled the dialogue Mere Paas Ma Hai delivered by Shashi Kapoor in the 1975 blockbuster movie Deewaar directed by Yash Chopra.
The question being hotly discussed in R K Nagar as well as all over Tamil Nadu is whether the results of the April 12 by-poll would set the tone for a political churning process in the State. It was a by-election in Dindigul Lok Sabha held in 1973 that announced to the world that Tamil Nadu politics has undergone a change. The 1973 Dindigul by-poll was the first time the AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran (who had been expelled from the DMK in the previous year) fielded a candidate Karuppa Thevar Maya Thevar who comfortably defeated the candidates fielded by the Congress (V P Chithan) and the DMK (Pon Muthuramalingam). “The rest is history,” said E Madhusoodanan, the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction candidate who has been pitted against TTV Dinakaran of the faction (AIADMK-Amma).
He also said that this election would prove which is the real AIADMK. “Amma’s soul is with us. We will win,” said Madhusoodanan, whose words resembled the dialogue Mere Paas Ma Hai delivered by Shashi Kapoor in the 1975 blockbuster movie Deewaar directed by Yash Chopra.
Dinakaran, his rival, is focussing more on the Hat symbol allocated to him by the Election Commission as the original symbol has been frozen following claims and counterclaims by both the factions. He argues that the hat was immortalised by MGR who always appeared in public wearing dark glasses and white fur cap. Dinakaran also seeks votes in the name of MGR while AIADMK workers question his locus stand for doing so. “Madhusoodanan was the leader of MGR Fans Association and always remained with him till he breathed his last in 1987. We had never heard about Dinakaran and Sasikala at that time,” said Saravanan, an autorickshaw driver in Tondiarpet, a suburb in R K Nagar.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he fact that Dinakaran and his associates have chosen not to utter anything about Sasikala has been noticed by the rival faction as well as the DMK. Moreover there are strong under currents in the AIADMK faction owing allegiance to Sasikala. If Dinakaran wins from R K Nagar, it is certain that Edappadi Palaniswamy, the chief minister, would lose his job. The question being asked is if not for usurping the post of chief minister, why should Dinakaran contest the by-poll?
The DMK is playing an intelligent game by fielding local leader Marutha Ganesh. ”He is the son of the soil. A grass root level worker who will be always accessible to take up your needs,” said Durai Murugan, the deputy leader of the DMK while addressing a road side meeting.
While returning from R K Nagar after a hectic tour across the constituency, one cannot disagree with the electorate of the constituency who are unanimous in their view that a thorough probe be ordered into the reasons behind the demise of Jayalalithaa.
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Dinakaran is right person
My choice dhinakaran. He is active. He can do lead admk
TTV Dinakaran will win. OPS team is DMK ‘B’ team. DMK cannot fool people anymore. There is no proof that Sasi killed J. Appllo never opened its mouth. CBI enquiry is the answer for J death suspense. So why Panneer silent for more than 90 days?. Now rebelled because he do not CM post?. What a politics… people are not fools anymore.. TTV Dinakaran will win for sure.
100% right, It is a real one, present ruling people selection is a right choice to the benefit of R.K. Nagar People.
My take: DMK will win, with OPS Camp coming in next. Dinakaran would be a distant third. None other than the first two will get back their deposits.
The story was titled who will win RK nagar. While going thru, I felt that you have answered that question – You have avoided it despite touring the constituency