IN UNCHARTED WATERS: LITMUS TEST FOR FRESH FACES IN TN
The Lok Sabha and the assembly by-polls will test the next generation leaders of the AIADMK and the DMK, besides a few other prominent faces
The upcoming Lok Sabha election and by-polls for 18 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu are not only a test of leadership for the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), but also for the next generation leaders of these two parties, besides prominent faces like T T V Dhinakaran and Kamal Haasan.
After the demise of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi, both the Dravidian parties are facing the first big election under the new leadership. While the AIADMK is led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, the DMK is spearheaded by M K Stalin.
There will be a few faces, who were working behind the scenes so far, coming out into the open and representing their respective parties during these elections.
T T V Dhinakaran
V K Sasikala’s nephew and AIADMK rebel leader Dhinakaran had won the R K Nagar seat in 2017, defeating both the AIADMK and the DMK.
Following Jayalaithaa's death and Sasikala's imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case, the Sasikala faction named Palaniswami chief minister and Dhinakaran the leader of the party. However, Palaniswami joined hands with the Panneerselvam group and expelled Dhinakaran to take over the name and the party symbol.
Dhinakaran floated the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). It may tie up with a few regional parties ahead of the polls.
While he may not be able to make any inroads in the Lok Sabha, he may split the AIADMK votes in favour of the DMK in the by-elections. The AMMK representative said that the outfit is targeting at least 10 seats.
Dhinakaran's caste could play a major role in getting votes for his party. He is a Thevar, a dominant OBC community in southern Tamil Nadu. There is a perception that the Thevars leaned towards the AIADMK in the past only because of Sasikala's family. This notion will be put to the test as Paneerselvam also belongs to the same community.
Kamal Haasan
The actor-turned-politician said that his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is open to aligning with likeminded parties, but so far, he has failed to ink a deal with any of the major parties While MNM of Kamal Hasan ( top left) will look to target Muslim and Christian voters, T T V Dhinakaran’s AMMK will battle it out against the AIADMK for Thevar votes. ( In inset) Vijayakanth ( right) with son Vijay Prabhakaran, who is also set to take the politicial plunge or alliances, including the DMKCongress alliance.
The DMK and Haasan are almost on the same page in terms of their ideology regarding Hindutava and in their anti-Brahmin mindset. However, when there were talks between the Congress and the MNM, the DMK did not show much interest.
Experts feel minorities, especially Muslims and Christians who have been voting for the DMK, may prefer Haasan over the Dravidian party.
Sabareesan
An unexpected, but not surprising new entrant who is still not fully in the limelight is the DMK president’s son-in-law Sabareesan, who is said to be liaisoning between his party and its allies. Sabareesan’s role in the party and its alliance has been more tangible in recent times, especially with the elections on the cards, said experts. The communication between the DMK and its ally Congress was earlier mostly managed by Kanimozhi, daughter of Karunanidhi.
Some senior party leaders are not pleased with the emergence of a new power centre, they said.
According to reports, when the DMK initiated talks with the Congress, a three-member team met Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Those were Kanimozhi, T R Baalu and Sabareesan.
Sabareesan, it is rumoured, also has a say in the selection of candidates.
When Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani visited Stalin at his residence recently, the couple was received by Sabareesan.
Ravindranath Kumar Panneerselvam's son O P Ravindranath Kumar has sought a Lok Sabha ticket from the Theni or Virudhunagar constituency in southern Tamil Nadu. While there is criticism over the deputy CM seemingly promoting his son, Kumar rubbishes the perception.
"I have been working for the AIADMK since I was 18. Now I am 39. It's only with the right of a genuine and committed party worker that I have sought the ticket," he says.
Vijay Prabhakaran
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakanth’s son Vijay Prabhakaran is also set to take the plunge into active politics this election season. The party has joined the National Democratic Alliance and is set to contest four seats in the Lok Sabha election.