File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. , Photo credit: B Jothi Ramalingam
TeaTraditionally, the results of by-elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are not surprising. As of now, there is no indication that the elections to the Erode (East) assembly constituency, which goes to polls on February 27, will be an exception to this rule. Given the absence of a common opposition candidate and churning within the AIADMK, which is the main opposition party, EVKS Elangovan, the candidate of the ruling DMK-led alliance and former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) chief, appears to have an edge over the rest.
The two traditional rivals, the DMK and the AIADMK (which is yet to announce its candidate) started preparing for the election soon after the death of MLA Thirumahan Evra, the eldest son of the former TNCC chief, earlier this month. As far as the ruling party and Chief Minister MK Stalin are concerned, this assembly bypoll, the first since the DMK stormed back to power in May 2021, seems to be a matter of prestige. The party seems to have gauged this from the fact that it persuaded Mr. Elangovan, who did not want to enter the fray and appealed to the high command, to consider nominating his son Sanjay Sampath, his Change the decision Mr. Elangovan is the grandson of Dravida Kazhagam founder EV Ramasamy. The Congress plans to capitalize on public sympathy for the family of the deceased MLA, and hence chose Mr. Elangovan, who is known to be an outspoken leader.
The DMK has appointed Housing Minister and senior Erode district leader S. Muthusamy has also shown his seriousness by choosing him as the pointman for the by-election work. Mr Muthusamy was part of the AIADMK before joining the DMK in 2010. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly four times from the district – thrice from the erstwhile undivided constituency of Erode (in 1977, 1980 and 1984) and once from Bhavani (1991). In the current House, he represents Erode (West).
The story of AIADMK is not like that of the ruling party. Apart from persuading the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopnar) to give it the seat, the main opposition party has not made much progress. It is yet to announce its candidate, though the names of former MLAs KS Thennarasu and KV Ramalingam are doing the rounds. Whether it will get the popular ‘two leaves’ election symbol is uncertain, although the Election Commission of India has not prohibited the use of the party’s name and symbol. Regarding the control of the organization, the interim general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and ousted coordinator O. The possibility of Prateeksha freezing up had become a talking point in political circles after the tussle between Panneerselvam peaked in June last year. Both the parties are awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on their petitions. Mr Panneerselvam has questioned the validity of the party’s July 11 general council meeting, in which resolutions were passed for his expulsion from the primary membership of the AIADMK, abolition of the posts of coordinator and co-coordinator, and His staunchest opponent was elected interim general secretary. Mr Palaniswami has complained to the court that the Election Commission refused to accept his signature as interim general secretary of the AIADMK.
The BJP, which has been an ally of the AIADMK for most of the last four years, is yet to clarify its position for or against the two leaders. The party has also not categorically said that it would refrain from fielding its candidate despite Mr. Panneerselvam’s offer of support. If the BJP does not contest, Panneerselvam will put up a candidate of his choice.
Despite all the confusion, Mr. Palaniswami and his allies are determined to field their candidate. He sent a delegation to meet several of his allies. Former school education minister and another Erode stalwart KA Sengottaiyan has been made the head of the party’s bypoll team. He is recalling how the AIADMK (Jayalalithaa faction) won seven of the 11 seats in the erstwhile Periyar district without the symbol of two leaves in the 1989 assembly elections and lost two more seats by narrow margins Was.
Besides this, smaller parties like Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Nama Tamilar Katchi and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam have announced their candidates. All this will make the electoral battle far more intense than otherwise.