Honeymoons, by definition, do not last long. But in Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam appears to have found a way to prolong the political honeymoon with the voters. After scoring a landslide win in the Legislative Assembly election held in April, the AIADMK swept the local body polls last week, capturing all the 10 corporations, and a majority of the municipalities, town panchayats, district panchayat wards, and panchayat union wards. And in the by-election to the Tiruchi (West) Assembly constituency, the party more than doubled its April victory margin. All this was achieved without the support of its major allies, notably the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam led by actor Vijayakant and the two Left parties. These three parties had formed a separate front for the local body polls, after differences surfaced with the senior partner over seat-sharing, but finished well behind the AIADMK and the principal opposition, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Like the AIADMK, the DMK contested without entering into seat adjustments with its Assembly election partners but, unlike the ruling party, it failed to make any gains. To nobody's surprise, the Congress, contesting alone, failed to win even a single corporation or municipality. The Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, former allies of the DMK, fared worse. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which boycotted the Assembly election after seat-sharing talks with the AIADMK broke down, won the chairmanship of one municipality and seven town panchayats, but was not in the reckoning in most other places.
For the AIADMK, the results were an endorsement of the schemes and policies of the Jayalalithaa government in the last six months. Besides implementing the ‘free rice' scheme, the government began fulfilling the election promises in quick time. Indeed, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa created a new Ministry for Special Programme Implementation to push through priority schemes such as free laptops for school and college students and mixers and grinders for the cardholders in the Public Distribution System. The welfare schemes aside, the AIADMK government appears to have got good ratings for its performance on the law and order front, and especially for its measures to reverse land grabbing. Unlike in 2001 and 2006, the local body elections this time were free of large-scale violence and irregularities. Now, with this reinforced mandate, the Chief Minister must ensure that the local bodies have sufficient funds and administrative autonomy so that they are enabled to function effectively as grass-roots democratic institutions.
Keywords: Tamil Nadu local body polls, Tamil Nadu politics
The Jayalalithaa government must do what is good for life now that people have given full mandate throughout Tamilnadu. TN is blessed with more than 72 million human beings population. She can reorganize the way of life there for which a good foundation exists in an efficient PDS. By rebuilding a cadre of weavers, handloom and khadi can be revived to power cloth production by the masses. Vapor absorption cooling can be made compulsory on a war footing. Pedal power production of electricity can revolutionize the enjoyment of living energy in communities by docking bicycles with electricity generators so employment and abandoning nuclear power can be achieved smartly,quickly and with minimum use of land. Human beings have a mean peak power capacity of 100 watts. By clever substitution of life styles, people can work where they live and live where they work and play. TN can show India and the world how a normal way of life must function. Our great civilization can be revived for health.
With majority in Legislature and Local Bodies AIADMK should deliver . Chief Minister should make herself easily accessible to the people who have reposed faith in her , meet the Press and allow the opposition in the Legislature and Councils to speak on issues concerning the people. People of Tamil Nadu had thrown her Government from Power in 1996 (even she tasted defeat in Bargur) and again in 2006. Her well wisher , Friend, Philosopher and Guide , Thuglak Editor vehemently opposed her in 1996 , aided her in 2001 to capture power alliance with TMC which was formed in opposition of alliance with her although she gave 30 Lok Sabha Seats in 1996. Anything is possible in politics. She might have learnt a good lesson by now. If she proves her critics as correct , will lose people's support . Except the leaders there is no difference between AIADMK and DMK in issues such as Corruption etc. Tamil Nadu should emulate Kerala model of Two formulations and change of Government every five years.
Extended honeymoon aided by freebies is not the only factor. DMK chief's immediate family in the thick of mega corruption scandals and scores of his party brotheren in serious land grabbing charges must have had an impact too.
I do not agree with the editorial that the victory of AIADMK is an extended honey moon. In fact it is a clear indication that regionalism is vital for a variegated country like India and this strengthens federalism unlike centralizing power by major national parties. In India if regional parties bloom it is good for the unity and integrity of the country.
I consider both Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi as best administrators in the country even better than Narender Modi and Nitish Kumar. The only drawback with both is that both were corrupt while in power. while Jayalalithaa's past sins are still haunting her through court cases, Karunanidhi is caught in the 2G scam. Both are seduced by corruption. That's the reason public elects one in one election and the other in the next as they are more bothered in the benefits they can get from the government.
Of course, it was a honeymoon period for the people of state because there was a local election and our state govt. did well to please the people.. lets see the real game of our CM. now. because last time also she won in majority and did what she wished.. crack down on state employees, crack down on doctors, crack down on teachers etc. then parliament elections made her to land to the earth from the skies.. let's wait and see.. if she does good., then no problem in appreciating her...
AIADMK supremo has once again proved her uncanny perception in assessing the pulse of the people.Local body elections have given an opportunity to different political parties to know where exactly they stand.The spectacular win of the ruling party is only indicative of the expectations of the people at large.
The Hindu and Mr.N.Ram, in particular should do more than excellent Editorials. The Hindu should activley support the TN Governmenet and its Chief Minister in what she said at the NDC Meeting. It is obvious that TN is receiving step-motherly treatment in terms of allocation Funds very badly needed after mismanagement of Finanances by DMK who are still colleagues of Congress. Dr.JJ gave a
letter to the PM in person soon after assuming office. PM in his infinite wisdom has not even acknowledged it. Mamata got what she wanted in double quick time.
Now if DMK put back 2 more Ministers in the Central Cabinet then they will only obstruct any proposal of the AIADMK Government which comes to their Ministry. PM will do nothing but is ready to say that achieving 9% growth is difficult.
Ms Jayalalitha should understand that more than love for AIADMK the disenchantment with the DMK due to the continuous reports of their corruption and involvement of leaders in corruption charges have worked in the election.Her government should urgently solve peoples problems and win their hearts than depending on the negative votes for strength
While agreeing with your editorial I would like remind the AIADMK supremo that with the alliance partneras she could have scored a cent percent results. If we analyze the corporation elections both Trichy and Tuticorin would have gone to the opposition camp had there been alliance among DMK,MDMK & DMDK. Similarly some the Municipalities too would have been captured by the opposition had there baeen an alliance. AIADMK should renew its alliance to keep DMK at distance/ recovering from the losses.
Appreciating the handing out of freebies as acceptable policy is sickening. If that were to be the only crtieria, the ruling class might as well ask all banks to leave their lockers and vaults open so the 'needy' can help themselves.
While other states that have been far behind Tamil Nadu have now elected leaders who can rise above pettiness and provide good governance and development, Tamil Nadu is regrretabbly going backwards. We have the bizzare scene of a sitting Cheif Minister having to attend court cases related to corruption, while all the while railing against her perceived enemies,trying to sound holier than thou.
The mammoth victory of the AIADMK in all elections conducted,particularly when the party has faced the elections without any of its alliance partners speaks volumes of the confidence the people have reposed on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with the fervent hope that she would render a trsutworthy and corrupt- free rule in the state.The working of the new AIADMK government in the past six months gives credence to believe that Jayalaithaa has taken it as a challenge to deliver the best to the state.With the grit and determination, this is definitely possible provided she is strict with her partymen,particularly those who are going to handle power.
The literacy , intellectual and moral levels of Indian mind must be
raised to sweep of the basic impediment to immediately free the nation
from election and its related problems-corruption,selection of unworthy
men etc.
The Local Body election results have proved that Tamil Nadu Politics is centered on mainstream Dravidian Parties - AIADMK and DMK and for the remaining parties including congress, without the support of these 2 Dravidian parties they are irrelevant in Tamil Nadu politics. The humiliating defeat for the congress party is a wake up call to Sonia Gandhi on the danger of allowing the discarded leaders like Thanga Balu to run the party in the state and keeping tainted leaders from Tamil Nadu in the Union Council of Ministers. The much hyped membership enrollment drive and galvanizing of youth congress by Rahul Gandhi has yet again proved in Tamil Nadu as a futile exercise.
Your Editorial is very objective. Now, the CM must get down to Good Governance at all levels in the state. The DMK probably faced the rout, because of the disquieting number of land grab cases that surfaced in recent past
Now the AIADMK can continue with the goodies-- what next? Fridges and
washing machines perhaps. It is obnoxious to see the electorate
repaying the AIADMK with votes in exchange for the goodies. The ethos
of unearned entitlement is being nurtured and kept alive by the
Dravida parties with the active connivance of the electorate. This is
not a honeymoon relationship between lovers -- it is more like the
relationship between the hostage and terrorist. The electorate and the
Dravida parties change roles to keep the other in good humour. We need
the like of Arabian spring in India, especially in Tamil Nadu.
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