The AIADMK has finally managed to wrest control of Nanguneri after a gap of 18 years. The victory of party candidate V. Narayanan (in pic), who secured 55.88% of the votes, was made possible by a carefully drawn strategy.
Intense electioneering by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, portraying DMK president M.K. Stalin as a ‘liar’ who had ‘hoodwinked’ the people with fake promises during the Lok Sabha polls, did have an impact on the voters.Most of the AIADMK Ministers monitoring “poll-related activities” in the constituency were seen working with a ‘killer instinct’.
Having sensed that the electorate of the Kalakkad Union would largely favour the Congress candidate, the AIADMK deployed two resourceful Ministers there — K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji (Dairy Development) and C. Vijayabaskar (Health).
To woo Christian voters, the AIADMK admitted Vedhanayagam, Lay Secretary of the Tirunelveli CSI Diocese, into the party. The Ministers also wooed Thevar voters in Nanguneri, Singaneri, Marukaalkurichi, Manjankulam and Vijayanarayanam, where the AMMK, which boycotted the bypoll, had a presence.
Significantly, though the AIADMK did seek the BJP’s support, it strategically kept the national ally at a comfortable distance at the ground level, making sure that no BJP leader accompanied ruling party campaigners in minority-dominated areas.
