April 25 was an eagerly awaited day for the PMK cadre in Dharmapuri. Their chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss was all set to file his nomination papers from Pennagaram. The sound of prayer chimes in the Ramadoss household on Hoggenakkal Road filled the air, heightening the expectation of a predominantly young crowd waiting outside for their Chinnayya to step out.
Clad in a crisp white shirt, Dr. Anbumani was carefully checking the documents one last time. Also seated in the living room was the family patriarch and his father S. Ramadoss, all ready to bless his son before the battle ahead. “This is a historic day that will change the course of Tamil Nadu’s political history,” he told the members of his family with a broad smile on his face.
As the PMK scion drove past in the Mercedes SUV, the young boys, some with T-shirts emblazoned with the party’s election slogan — Mattram Munnetram (Change, Progress) — and the Vanniyar Sangam’s ‘pot of fire’ symbol, cheered loudly.
An hour later, when the PMK leader came back to the house, he was greeted with lemon and camphor to ward off the “evil eye” he might have attracted.
The heavy religious symbolism all around begged the question if he was a believer, unlike his father. “I am a believer. I have no reason to hide it like some leaders do. But some of these rituals, I do them for the sake of my family members,” he says, adding that a visit to the Tirupati temple was a must on his wedding anniversary. “I have climbed the hills on foot five times,” he recollects. He gets a hug from his mother as she leaves.
Minutes earlier, the gathering resembled the panchayat gatherings depicted in Tamil movies. A large vessel with freshly cooked biryani was placed nearby, its aroma filling the air. Every important office-bearer of the PMK in Pennagaram was there, with Dr. Anbumani carefully listening to what they were saying. The emphasis was clear. He was the future of the party, the man who would steer the outfit after his father.
A loss in Pennagaram would mean a loss for every party member. It was not enough to win. The margin had to be the biggest in Tamil Nadu. “The tremors in Pennagaram should shake Chennai,” one spirited member remarked. What did he like most about his leader? “Can anyone speak English so stylishly like him? He is also the smartest looking politician after MGR.”
Asked about 2011, the PMK scion said that the party had recovered well from the electoral defeat. The negative impact of the DMDK’s emergence on its base had also been sorted out, he added. “Youngsters felt left out and some moved out at one point. Now, they have been given due importance. We have regained totally.”
A democratic affair
Unlike the Dravidian parties, where no one speaks a word when the leader addresses them, this gathering certainly seemed more democratic. Dr. Anbumani was interrupted multiple times, with members expressing concern over specific strategies. One wanted more focus on Muslim areas in the constituency, even quoting statistics on the number of voters in the community. In fact, allowing every one to speak looked like a fine way to make them feel important, something that boosted their morale.
Some members who spoke to this reporter gave a glimpse into the campaign methodology. The stress was on multiple personal meetings with village elders, who could sway the votes in the PMK’s favour.
In particular, those present emphasised on the need to reach out to non-Vanniyar OBCs and those affiliated to the Dravidian parties. “The main parties have also fielded Vanniyar candidates. So the other communities could prove decisive,” said one functionary.
As for Dalits, there were doubts if they would vote for the PMK. “But we will take his promises to them. We are sure his image will change their mind,” said another party functionary. Prohibition, he felt, would help people irrespective of their caste and creed. “When we help, we don’t make a distinction on caste basis.”
While the language used in the gathering had a feudal touch, it ended on a different note. This backward area had taken to technology well. Every person had a smartphone. And each wanted a selfie with Dr. Anbumani, who happily obliged.
