For the first time, the two Chief Ministerial candidates of rival fronts M. Karunanidhi (DMK) and Jayalalithaa (AIADMK) will be contesting the elections from the central districts, and their decisions have triggered off enthusiasm among voters, particularly agriculturists, across the delta region.
Mr. Karunanidhi launched his political career by contesting successfully from Kulithalai Assembly seat in 1957, in the then Tiruchi district. In the next general elections held in 1962, he was elected from Thanjavur seat. However, on both occasions, the DMK was not in the race for capturing power in the State.
Later, Mr. Karunanidhi chose to contest from constituencies in Chennai city apparently due to the relative smallness of the city constituencies where campaigning was easier. By deciding to fight this time from his native Tiruvarur segment, he has brought cheer to the cadre of fraternal parties as well, and also to neutral observers.
Having brought important projects like Central University and Government Medical College to the backward district, Mr. Karunanidh's victory here, a cross section of people say, will lead to further development of the central region. Similar is the standpoint of the people rooting for the victory of Ms. Jayalalithaa. The electorate nurses hope that she would fulfil the dream of her mentor late MGR to make Tiruchi the second capital of the State factoring in its vantage location.
Ms. Jayalalithaa was first elected to the Assembly from Bodinayakanur constituency in Theni district in the 1989 elections. Later, in 1991 elections, she emerged successful from two constituencies – Bargur and Kangeyam seats – and went on to form the government. She relinquished the Kangeyam seat and retained the Bargur seat.
In the 1996 elections, she contested again from Bargur, but was trounced by DMK's unknown face E.G. Sugavanam. Ms. Jayalalithaa bounced back when she was elected to the Assembly from the rural Andipatti in the 2001 elections to form her second government. She retained the Andipatti seat in the last election too.
