TAMILNADU

Election Campaign in full swing

 R Govindarajan

THERE is an atmosphere of sweltering heat - not just of the summer but also of the intense election campaign in Tamilnadu. It is bound to reach high mercury level on May 8, 2006 when the people of Tamilnadu go to the polls. Apart from holding public meetings, street corner meetings and cultural programmes, the stage is now set for intensive campaign of meeting the voters directly. The Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) led by DMK with Congress, PMK and the Left parties, CPI(M) and CPI is already campaigning on specific political and economic issues affecting the lives of the people of the state.

The issues raised by the DPA have initiated a serious political debate forcing the ruling AIADMK and its allies to be on the defensive. When the DMK manifesto offered 2 acres of land to the landless out of 50 lakhs of acres of land available, the AIADMK supremo Ms Jayalalitha questioned the availability of the land. The DPA quoted extracts from her own speech in the Tamilnadu Assembly to refute her contention. When there was an offer of sale of rice at Rs. 2 per kg, initially the AIADMK termed it as impracticable but later it offered 10 Kg free supply of rice to all the ration cardholders. When there was an offer by DMK to waive all the agricultural co-cooperative loans, the next day Ms Jayalalitha announced waiver of all such loans and interest. One simple question that the people have raised is: why the ruling AIADMK did not do this, during the 5 years in office? The pressure is now on AIADMK which is taking recourse to violence.

In one of the meetings addressed by  TK Rengarajan, Central Committee member of CPI(M), AIADMK hooligans began heavy stone throwing targeting him directly. Four culprits have been arrested and the police is in search of an AIADMK councillor of Chennai Corporation. Election office in Harur constituency where the CPI(M) candidate is contesting was burnt by certain elements unable to tolerate the successful electioneering by the DPA and the Left.

Election campaign is facing a new situation with the directives of the observers of  Election Commission at some places. It started in Nilgiris District and subsequently extended to Salem and Coimbatore districts. The CPI(M) has erected memorials and raised flagmasts with party flags in memory of many departed leaders and martyrs who laid their lives for the people's causes. They are there for many decades. But with the orders of Election Commission observers, the police and district officials removed the CPI(M) flags, the flagmasts and banners and destroyed even the name boards.

The existing law stipulates that party flags and banners should not be displayed in public places during the elections and no graffiti could be drawn on the walls in urban areas; but no such ban is applicable to the rural areas. It seems there is an incorrect understanding of the rules by some EC observers. It is so irrational that party flags and name boards are being removed from the party offices where the party is functioning for many years. The CPI(M) is being targeted for this type of action by the EC. The CPI(M) state secretary met the Chief Election Commissioner Tamilnadu and lodged the party's protest at these activities of EC observers and demanded complete withdrawal of all such directives. The CEC assured that memorials and the flag masts existing for a long period of time would not be removed.

Despite such provocative actions, the campaign is going on without any distraction. The CPI(M)which is contesting in 13 constituencies has been moving in a well coordinated way along with the alliance parties. Prakash Karat, general secretary of CPI(M), Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura and also a Polit Bureau member, Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat, R Umanath and K Varadarajan all Polit Bureau members are touring the state. N Varadarjan, state secretary and other CC Members of the Party from Tamilnadu are extensively campaigning throughout the state.

One important issue that has come up before the people in the midst of election campaign is the order given by two members of Cauvery Water Tribunal (CWT) suggesting appointment of a new experts committee to go into the various aspects of the Cauvery water dispute. This, all the parties of DPA and the Left consider, is nothing but a ruse to postpone any decision for some more decades; all issues pertaining to this have been well documented and the hearing of the tribunal has been going on for the last 15 years since the publication of an interim Award and entire Tamilnadu is waiting of the final Award. While requesting all the peasant organisations to send telegrams to CWT demanding reconsideration of the order passed by the Tribunal. All the parties have demanded intervention of the Central government for the early release of the final Award.

The DPA and the left are moving with full confidence and their well planned election machinery is vigilant to face any situation, keeping in view that this oppressive anti democratic and anti people AIADMK rule should be ended in this electoral battle.