There is a discernible anger among the hard core AIADMK activists and workers in RK Nagar Assembly constituency going to the by-poll on April 12 against party general secretary VK Sasikala and her followers.
What stands out throughout the constituency is the absence of any posters featuring Sasikala, who is undergoing her four-year prison term in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bangalore in the Disproportionate Asset case.
Though Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister whose untimely demise led to the by-election from RK Nagar, too was an accused in the case all the AIADMK followers whom The Pioneer spoke to were unanimous in their view that Amma 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 Vasu, a Malayali tea shop owner. The words of other AIADMK activists were no different from that of Vasu’s.
The question being hotly discussed in RK 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 MG 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 (VP 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 delivered by Sasi Kapoor in the 1975 blockbuster movie Deewaar.
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 Muruga, an autorickshaw driver in Tondiarpet, a suburb in R K Nagar.
The 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. More over 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-pollIJ
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.