M K Stalin Leads The DMK To Impressive Victory
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-05-03 07:10:40
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Tamil Nadu voted as per the opinion polls and the exit polls. Hence, despite E K Paliniswami getting high ratings as a chief minister, the anti-incumbency against his government was greater and in the end, the people's wish to change the government was stronger than giving Paliniswami another stint. It is also to the credit of M K Stalin and the DMK that they effectively converted the silent rage against the AIADMK government into votes for themselves.
The AIADMK's alliance with the BJP also worked in the DMK's favour as the people of Tamil Nadu have always held a strong distrust for overpowering national parties. Since the incumbent party was supporting the NDA government at the Centre on most matters, the voters did not like it as they did not want to give the BJP a larger stake in regional politics. The DMK also did its bit by painting the AIADMK as a party which took orders from New Delhi.
But the DMK and Stalin have been working towards unseating the AIADMK government ever since some party leaders were absolved of the corruption charges related to 2G and other alleged scams. With Karunanidhi no more there to guide the party, it was upon Stalin to rise to the occasion. This he has done with perfection, guiding the party to a two-third majority in alliance with the Congress and other smaller parties.
The AIADMK has had to suffer for a allocating a 10.5 percent sub-quota within the most backward caste category to the vanniyars. The party lost votes among the thevars in southern TN, a strong base for the party. Still, the party managed to do well in rural TN while it completely lost the plot in urban areas. The party was already entangled in factional tussle and these are likely to multiply after this defeat. Further, Sasikala is waiting for an opportunity to gain control of the party.
After sweeping the elections, the DMK is assured that it can rule in peace for the next five years. But it will have to work hard to gain the trust of people in the rural parts of the state. Stalin, along with the redoubtable Mamata Banerjee, will also emerge as a frontliner in any national alliance of non-Left opposition parties that takes on the BJP in 2024.
