Dissidents in major political parties pose grave threat to official candidates of various parties in Bodi and Chinnamanur municipal council elections. Major political parties – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – suffer a serious setback owing to dissident activities.
Anger, disgust and discontent are seen in this local body elections against official candidates, particularly in urban local bodies. In some municipalities, the parties handled the dissidents efficiently.
Worst affected is the AIADMK in Bodinayakanur municipal poll. At the outset, the party high command fielded V.A. Palani Raja, party town district secretary as its candidate for the chairman post. Later, it changed its stand and announced Bodi town deputy secretary A.G. Balamurugan as official candidate. Frequent changes ignite flame of anger in the minds of party functionaries.
Already, seat was denied to former Bodi municipal vice-chairman Sethuram who wished to contest for the chairman post this time. Both filed their nominations against the official AIADMK candidate. Even the party high command's stern warning to follow party rules did not deter them. Pacification exercise too did not work well. Now, the official candidate has to fight against the two dissidents within the party and equally strong DMK and DMDK rivals who enjoy community support. In Chinnamanur, the DMK is caught in the whirlwind of dissident activities. Veteran party leader Sannasi Thevar along with relatives, mostly DMK functionaries, fielded their candidate as an independent against the official DMK candidate, C.R. Krishnamurthy. Seat was denied to their relative D. Manoharan whose father Dhavasi was a former municipal chairman. So, they fielded him against the party's official candidate as an independent. Former DMK councillors too supported Mr. Manoharan only. Mr. Dhavasi had enjoyed the support of AIADMK partymen during his tenure as Chinnamanur chairman.
Now, Mr. Krishnamurthy has to face the DMK dissident and also arch rivals P. Suresh (AIADMK), S. Meenambal (DMDK) and G. Balamurugan (MDMK).
In Theni and other municipalities, both the DMK and the AIADMK managed to handle the dissidents successfully.
Dissidents were given chances to contest in other posts including municipal councillor posts.
However, the DMDK and the CPI(M) have successfully clinched the deal. The DMDK fielded its candidate with total support of CPI(M) in Theni municipality.
But the condition of the Congress party is very pathetic as it lacks candidates to field for various posts in the local bodies in the district. Shortage of hands within the Congress cheers dissidents in other parties.
The Congress becomes an ideal asylum for those from other parties. They not only receive a red carpet welcome in the Congress but also get seats according to their wish without much hassles. Congress too is happy in fielding sizable number of candidates in the election.
