While supporters of the ruling AIADMK are waiting with bated breath for their leader to emerge successful in her appeal in the Karnataka High Court against her conviction, Opposition parties are counting on an adverse verdict to rebuild their own fortunes.
Although the AIADMK vote bank and Ms Jayalalithaa’s hold over the organisations is unlikely to suffer any immediate setback even if the High Court concurs with the lower court, political parties such as the DMDK and the PMK might seek to form new alliances and cash in on a possible mood of gloom in the AIADMK camp.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss has been harping on an alternative front. PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss has launched a war of words with DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on who is better qualified to rule the State. DMDK founder Vijayakant, despite moving close to the DMK, will also seek to project himself as a right alternative.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan is talking of cobbling together a front of smaller parties. The two Left parties, pursuing a policy of equidistance from the AIADMK and DMK, might try some permutations and combinations of their own.
“But it is not sure whether these political parties will be able to eat much into the AIADMK vote bank at all. They might nibble at the edges, but none of them can pose any serious threat to our own prospects – we will easily remain the most viable alternative to the AIADMK,” asserted a former DMK MP.
Leaders of the Left parties said the political situation would change depending on the outcome of the case.
