Tirunelveli: Stakes high for major players

By Syed Muthahar

TIRUNELVELI, MAY 3. The stakes for all the three parties-AIADMK, Puthiya Tamilagam, and MDMK-are high in the Sankarankoil (res) constituency.

The outcome of the election here is crucial for the MDMK general secretary, Mr. Vaiko, as the denial of this seat, where he hails from, was one of the reasons for the party's exit from the DMK- led front.

While the AIADMK has fielded its sitting MLA Mr. C. Karuppusamy, the Puthiya Tamizhagam has nominated its state general secretary, Mr. P. Doraisamy, and the MDMK nominee is Dr. T. Sathan Thirumalaikumar. Four Independents are also in the fray.

Sankarankoil was carved out of the Puliangudi constituency in 1967 and since then the seat has been held by the DMK and the AIADMK four times each. Sankarankoil was the only constituency from where an AIADMK nominee emerged victorious in the 1996 elections from the southern districts.

The constituency assumed importance after the PT chief, Dr. K. Krishnasamy, announced his intention to contest from here which ultimately led to the exit of the MDMK from the DMK-led front.

It would have been a cakewalk for any candidate from the DMK-led front before the MDMK exit, if one goes by the votes secured by the alliance partners in the 1996 elections. Dr. Krishnasamy decided to contest from Ottapidaram instead of Sankarankoil after the MDMK exit and also from Valparai (res) constituency.

Mr. Karuppusamy has a relative advantage as he is being considered an unassuming politician and easily approachable. The AIADMK cadres claim that the party's rural vote bank is in tact and the parting away of the MDMK from the DMK-led front has given their candidate a definite edge. With the visit of AIADMK chief, Ms. Jayalalitha, last week, they claim that the chance of his winning has brightened.

The organisational machinery of the MDMK has been geared up in every nook and corner of the constituency. The cadres are also making serious attempts to create sympathy for their party, over the MDMK's exit from the DMK-led front. This is working out well even in the remote villages, they claim.

Mr. Doraisamy banks on the PT and the DMK votes, besides the Yadava votes, spread over Sankarankoil town, K. V. Nallur, Mullikulam, Punnayyapuram, Sokkampatti, Puliangudi Sinthamani etc. The support of Mr. Kannappan, heading the Yadava- dominated Makkal Tamil Desam (MTD), has also come in handy.

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Section  : State Elections
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