Tri-cornered battle in land of Dravidians

Actors, directors, a surgeon and a former IPS officer are in the fray, along with 976 other candidates in Tamil Nadu (950 candidates) and Puducherry (26) that went to polls today (on April 19). The state has, for several years, seen contests mainly between the two Dravidian parties - DMK and AIADMK. However, BJP has entered the contest this time, making it a one-of-a-kind tri-cornered battle between DMK-Congress-led alliance, BJP-PMK alliance and AIADMK-led alliance.

DMK is fighting on 21 seats, its ally Congress on 9 while the rest of the seats are divided between allies like the Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, CPI and CPI(M), MDMK, IUML and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.

AIADMK, the main Opposition party in the state, is contesting on 34 seats and has formed its own alliance with parties like the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (5 seats) founded by actor-politician, the late Vijayakanth. Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) candidates will be contesting on one seat each on AIADMK symbol.


BJP, which has put in a lot of attention and resources into its TN campaign, has its own alliance with Pattali Makkal Katchi, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and the ousted AIADMK leader, O Panneerselvam. BJP will contest on 23 seats, PMK on 10, TMC on 3, AMMK on 2 and the independent candidate Pannerselvam on one seat.

The campaign saw BJP raising issues of the then Congress government ceding Katchatheevu island, matters related to corruption and dynastic politics and alleged drug rackets of the ruling DMK. DMK is highlighting how the Centre was not giving the state its due resources and how voting for BJP may throw curbs on people's eating habits in the state. AIADMK, once an ally of BJP, has attacked DMK for corruption and the drug racket. It has attacked BJP for inflation in the country. Locally, all parties have promised to work on the issues of unemployment and lack of development.