Lok Sabha polls 2014: 2G scam-struck A Raja seeking electoral absolution in Niligiris

The idyllic hill district of the Nilgiris forms an unlikely backdrop as the place that elected the man who may be largely instrumental in getting the UPA government voted out in 2014. A Raja, former telecommunications minister and the main protagonist in what came to be called the “2G scam” is still fighting the court case resulting from it, but is actually seeking electoral absolution in the Nilgiris.

His campaign, boosted by a visit from DMK treasurer MK Stalin on April 4 to huge crowds and applause, is part penance and part exoneration. “I am convinced that I will get justice from the courts. If you see the way the figure for presumptive loss has gone down from Rs 1,76,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore and to even zero, you will see that I was penalized for revolutionizing the telecom sector in India,” he says to a moderate-sized crowd.

“It was a conspiracy to end my career,” he adds for good measure. Although not from Nilgiris (he was born and grew up in Perambalur near Trichy), Raja’s success as a politician and lawyer, despite being handicapped by his backward caste status and ordinary background is still resonating with the voters. “There are many people who are jealous when a Dalit makes it big,” says Thyagarajan, a tea estate worker, and DMK supporter.

A reserved seat, the area is dominated by the Badaga community and Raja’s own Adi Dravida set. The main issues revolve around the many tea estates (around 300 at the last count), which dot the hills of Coonoor and Ooty, and its labour problems. “Thiru Raja has been very sensitive to these issues, and in fact last year when floods hit the area, he gave out Rs 2,000 and two blankets to every affected person, however small the damage,” said Nazir Ali, a district level secretary in DMK.

Raja has been hitting the campaign trail with a vengeance. His nearest rivals are barely touching upon the 2G scam, instead, AIADMK’s C Gopalkrishnan talks of the prime ministerial prospects of J Jayalalithaa. The MDMK, which came second in the seat the last time (Raja won by a good margin of 85,000 votes in 2009) is now in alliance with BJP and will be supporting the BJP candidate S Gurumoorthy, who had contested the last time round and lost his deposit in the contest. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which vowed to take on Raja on its anti-corruption plank is yet to announce a candidate in the area. Polling is on April 24.

The young Dalit lawyer who shook the government in Delhi is looking for expiation by vote .