Even though CPI candidate C. Mahendran polled just 9,710 votes and failed to retain his deposit in the R.K. Nagar by-election, the Left parties sought to put a brave face saying it was an encouragement for them to further the fight for an alternative economic policy and the struggle against social injustice.
As all other major political parties stayed away from the by-poll, the Left parties entered the fray.
The performance of Mr Mahendran has come as an encouragement, as he was able to secure nine thousand votes against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
It assumes significance when compared to the 1,552 votes polled by the CPI (M) candidate in the Srirangam by-election in which the DMK had contested.
In a joint statement, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan and CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan accused the Election Commission of failing to act in an impartial manner even after a booth polled over 100 per cent of registered votes.
The battleground was uneven from the day by-election was announced and the government sought to create an impression that all the problems in the constituency which remained unsolved by AIADMK MLAs in the past would be resolved by Ms. Jayalalithaa, the Left leaders said.
“Despite misuse of power, distribution of money and intimidation the votes polled by the Left candidate have proved that people are keen on protecting democracy,” they said.
‘A farce’DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, however, alleged that the entire by-election was a farce. The silence of the Election Commission despite systematic dismantling of democratic systems was appalling. “If this is what the RK Nagar by-poll has come to, it is not hard to imagine how the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections will be held,” he said. The current state of affairs where dissent and democracy were silenced by the ruling regime was unacceptable, he said.
