DMK, ADMK to catch them young

As Tamil Nadu begins countdown to the 2016 Assembly polls, its leading political parties, none of whom has a second-level mass leader, are focusing on the youth vote.

The PMK too has organised half a dozen youth gatherings and recently named 46-year old Anbumani Ramadoss as its chief ministerial candidate.

Stalin has been recently surfacing at events likely to attract youth eyeballs, including closely fought cricket matches and celebrations to mark the win of a local athlete. A week ago, he tweeted a picture of himself watching an IPL cricket match along with his wife and at least six grandchildren.

DMK leader T K S Elangovan said the party’s youth wing has over 20 lakh members and Stalin had been its leader since the beginning. “It was Stalin who attracted a large number of youth into our party,” he said.

However, he admitted that the number of youth cadres had shown a decline. “This is a problem that almost all parties are facing. In the absence of critical social issues and movements, life of the average Tamil youth is about building on aspirations and a lucrative career,” Elangovan said.

The AIADMK’s “Ilangyar Pasarai” and “Ilampengal Pasarai”, youth wings for women and men cadres respectively, were set up in 2008. A senior party leader said all AIADMK ministers, MLAs and MPs will be involved in preparations for the forthcoming youth rallies to mark their formation.

While in the battle for the youth vote, Stalin has the advantage of being on Twitter, unlike the reclusive Jayalalithaa, a senior AIADMK leader said they had a database of over 15 lakh WhatsApp users and that a custom-made software sent them updates on party events and brief statements.

The AIADMK has also introduced a single-click membership system on its website. “Ours is the only Dravidian party with such an option. Over 3.5 lakh people have joined thus,” a senior leader said, saying the process takes three minutes.