Chennai, Feb 6: The electorate in Tamil Nadu will not only have to choose between two major alliances but also between two sets of issues. While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) combine is focusing on corruption and communalism, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (AIADMK) led front is seeking to highlight the non-performance of the United Front government at the centre and the DMK government in the state.The DMK-TMC front has dubbed the AIADMK-led alliance as `corrupt, cummunal and opportunistic'. They are seeking to remind the people of the mis-deeds of the AIADMK rule.
The people are being told not to allow communal forces (Bharatiya Janata Party) to get a foot hold in Tamil Nadu. The alliance entered into by AIADMK and co has been dubbed opportunistic sans any common ideology, with an eye to grab as many seats as possible.
The AIADMK-led front comprising AIADMK, BJP, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Janata Party led bySubramanian Swamy and Vazhapadi Ramamurthy's Tamil Rajiv Congress justify the alliance on the ground that the objective of the alliance is to provide a stable government at the centre. Their contention is that instability at the Centre has proved expensive for the nation. The United Front, according to them, spent most of its time trying to save the government rather than serving the people.
The AIADMK-led front is silent on corruption and the AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha has gone to the extent of accusing the ruling party of foisting cases against her. She has trained her guns on Karunanidhi and his government's ``non-performance''. Delving into those issues in which people have been directly affected such as price rise, failure of law and order situation, she hopes to turn the tide in her favour.
``You can buy gold but can you buy onions,'' is a routine refrain in all her campaign meetings. She is also capitalising on the steep hike in bus fare by terming it as `unbearable' to the common man but does notpromise any reduction. The law and order situation is another area the AIADMK front has in its sights. The occasional bomb blasts and recent caste clashes in the southern districts and in Coimbatore are providing ample ammunition.
She is also trying to turn the tables on the DMK-TMC combine, which at one time boasted of nine ministers at the centre, by questioning the benefits that have accrued to the people of Tamil Nadu in the last 20 months.
Long pending issues such as Cauvery water problem remain unattended, she argues. The DMK-TMC combine, expectedly, is silent on these issues.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
