Political parties in Tamil Nadu have got into the election mode, even though polls to the Assembly are ten months away.
The DMK on Monday announced a nine-member committee to draft the election manifesto, while the Left parties constituted a six-party “people welfare front”, which is likely to lead up to the formation of an alternative front in the State.
DMK’s manifesto committee will have party MP Kanimozhi, deputy general secretary V.P. Duraisamy, former ministers Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, and Thangam Thennarasu, party spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan, advocates R. Shanmugasundaram and N.R. Elango and educationist A. Ramasamy. Former Union Minister T.R. Baalu will be the co-ordinator.
The new front launched by the Left parties includes the CPI (M), CPI, MDMK, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi and Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam.
“Elections are months away but our immediate objective is to organise the people against the anti-people policies of the BJP at the Centre and the AIADMK government in the State,” said CPI(M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan, when asked whether the joint front will result in an electoral alliance.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who was present in the meeting, made it clear that the front would be consistent in its opposition to the policies of the BJP and the AIADMK governments.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said they were also taking efforts to rope in Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) led by G.K. Vasan and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founded by actor Vijayakant. Both Mr Vasan and Mr Vijayakant have not revealed their stand on election.
Demo and rally As a first step the “People Welfare Front” will hold a demonstration and rally in Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Erode on August 13 in support of their demands that include a CBI inquiry into the killing of 20 Tamils in Andhra Pradesh, implementation of prohibition in a phased manner, cancellation of the Methane project and remission for Yakob Memon.
The trends at present indicate that the State may witness a four-corned contest. After snapping its ties with the Left parties, the ruling AIADMK has no major political dispensations in its company.
The position of the DMK is no different and the party is wooing the Congress and Mr. Vijayakant, who is also on the wish-list of the BJP.
But the DMDK is said to have approached the BJP with the demand for declaring Mr. Vijayakant as the Chief Ministerial candidate as pre-condition for an alliance.
Whether the BJP will be ready for an experiment in Tamil Nadu or join hands with the AIADMK is not yet clear.
The PMK has already nominated former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss as its Chief Ministrial candidate.
