Enthused by his own victory and the number of votes polled by the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu, the Pattali Makkal Katchi youth wing leader, Anbumani Ramadoss, said the NDA would provide the much-needed political alternative to the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu in the 2016 Assembly elections.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakant also said that though the NDA was defeated in most of the constituencies, the people accepted the alliance as an alternative to both the DMK and the AIADMK.
Mr. Anbumani, who was elected from Dharmapuri, said it was a matter of record that after 47 years, a combination without the support of either the DMK or the AIADMK won two seats in a general election. “It is just a beginning. We will work out our strategy and prove our worth in the 2016 Assembly polls,” he said.
He said a decision on his joining the NDA government would be taken by the PMK leadership. “We will discuss the issue with our party founder [S. Ramadoss]. When there is an offer, the general council will meet and take a decision,” he told The Hindu , asked whether he was offered a berth in the Cabinet.
Mr. Anbumani said what was more important today in Tamil Nadu was to provide an alternative to the DMK and the AIADMK.
Asked why the Narendra Modi factor failed to make an impact in Tamil Nadu, he said it seemed a difficult phenomenon, requiring a careful analysis. “While there is need for introspection, the substantial increase in the vote share of the AIADMK, despite the anti-incumbency factor, points to something else. Cash distribution alone could not have secured so many votes for the ruling party,” he said.
Mr. Anbumani rejected the suggestion that polarisation of votes on caste lines helped him win in Dharmapuri, arguing that the caste factor alone would not bring more than 4.5 lakh votes to a candidate. “People cutting across caste and party lines have voted for the PMK as my achievements as Union Health Minister is still fresh in their minds.”
