Even as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidates’ electioneering in the district is going smoothly, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s preparations are almost in complete disarray, with demonstrations being staged in front of the party high command’s house, effigies being burnt and grievances being openly aired in the media.
After AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa released the list of candidates for the May 16 election, the party candidates started their electioneering on a day and time fixed by the high command across the State, though there were some differences of opinion on the choice of candidates in some segments in the district.
AIADMK candidate for Tirunelveli constituency Nainar Nagenthran has prepared a campaign schedule with exact time and date for electioneering in villages, and even in all streets.
He has also sent a copy of the schedule to all media houses here.
“The murmurs and discontent have been buried as the victory of the candidates announced by the party chief is the only goal for AIADMK cadres,” said an office-bearer and MLA-aspirant of the ruling party.
Similar murmurs could be heard in Palayamkottai, Nanguneri, Tenkasi and Sankarankovil constituencies too, but the fear of swift disciplinary action smothered dissatisfaction.
However, the DMK is a divided house now. While the situation in Palayamkottai segment, where the party has fielded again sitting MLA and former Minister T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, is worse, letters appealing to the party high command to replace the candidates fielded for Alangulam and Tirunelveli constituencies have also been sent.
After burning the effigy of Mr. Mohideen Khan minutes after the announcement by DMK president M. Karunanidhi on his candidature, a group of DMK cadres, including area secretaries, met media persons to express their displeasure over the choice of the candidate.
The same group went to Gopalapuram in Chennai to lay siege to the party president’s residence to demand change of the party’s candidate for Palayamkottai.
A DMK cadre climbed up a mobile phone tower with the same demand on Saturday and he could be brought down only after two-hour-long negotiation.
“It (protests and sending of petitions to high command) will die down soon as party treasurer M.K. Stalin recently spoke to a few office-bearers over phone in this connection. The damage control measure is going on,” said a senior DMK functionary.
