MADURAI, February 19: Subramanian Swamy is banking on the consolidation of opposition votes and is more than his life-sized image to avenge his 1996 election defeat in the hands of A G S Rambalan of TMC. Another crucial factor is whether the votes polled by him were anti-Jayalalitha votes or not. Swamy firmly believes that they were essentially pro-Swamy votes, but many do not agree.His single handed fight against the Jayalalitha regime has given him an image of a `go getter' and this, coupled with his far reaching contacts, could go a long way in helping Madurai, feel certain section of the people. Swamy on his part has promised to convert Madurai into a Singapore.
But his sudden jump into the Jayalalitha camp after fighting her tooth and nail has not gone down well with people. His opponents are using it to impress upon the masses that he is a man with no principles.
The Swamy camp is also hoping for a significant split in Communist votes as CPI(M) has put up a candidate on its own. People's angeragainst DMK, which is being perceived as responsible for the murder of CPI (M) counsillor Leelavathi, should result in many voting for CPI(M) rather than TMC, they say.
There is also no wave in favour of DMK-TMC and Ram Babu may find it difficult to poll the same percentage of votes. Moreover he may face anti-incumbency votes as he has not done much for the constituency in the last 18 months. His strength is that he belongs to the Saurashtrian community which has 1,70,000 votes. Here too, he has to worry because a section of the community has decided to support Swamy. A significant split in Sourashtran votes could spell doom for Rambabu.
Both the camps are working hard to corner rural votes. Samayanallur (SC) Assembly constituency has the largest vote bank. Periyar dam height issue is being capitalised by them. AIADMK and DMK-led front have promised to rake up the matter and increase the storage level to 152 feet from the current level of 136 feet. The fate of the winner depends on who the farmers reposetheir faith in.
In terms of consolidation of votes too, Swamy may not get the entire MDMK votes as Pon Muthuramalingam, who recently quit MDMK to rejoin DMK, has good following in Madurai. What would ultimately clinch the issue in favour of Swamy is whether people have accepted the reasons, if any, given by him for switching his loyalty to Jayalalitha. After all he became popular only for fighting her.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
