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Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

CPI scents a chance

K.V. Prasad

COIMBATORE

In Coimbatore, once known as the `Manchester of the East', a tough electoral battle looms. The State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, C.P. Radhakrishnan, is locked in a keen contest with the Communist Party of India candidate and former MLA, K. Subbarayan. Though there are other candidates in the fray — Moogambikai Mani (Shiv Sena), C. Govindasamy (Tamil Desiya Katchi) and A. Noor Mohammed (Bahujan Samaj Party) — the contest boils down to the two electoral heavyweights, Mr. Radhakrishnan and Mr. Subbarayan.

The CPI's strategy revolves round highlighting the problems of industry in the constituency. Besides, a simmering feud in the district unit of the BJP is a cause for worry in Mr. Radhakrishnan's camp. However, his party is putting up a brave face and contends that the voters are seized of the larger issues at the national level and will therefore vote for the BJP.

Mr. Radhakrishnan won the last two elections in 1998 and 1999, the former by a margin of 1,44,676 votes, defeating the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's K.R. Subbaiyan and the latter by 54,077 votes, defeating the CPI State secretary, R. Nallakkannu.

However, a lot has changed since the big win in 1998. While that victory is still considered significant for the BJP in announcing its presence in the State, the communal factor that largely facilitated the win is now absent. The BJP is aware of this, and Mr. Radhakrishnan's campaign itinerary in the city includes visits to the Muslim-dominated areas.

Mr. Subbarayan has accused the local BJP MP of not taking up the cause of Coimbatore's industry and failing to resist the Central value added tax. Mr. Radhakrishnan has a ready answer: the BJP has not contributed to the closure of industrial units as the Left parties had done with their militant trade unionism.

Despite being an outsider, Mr. Nallakkannu put up a tough fight to Mr. Radhakrishnan in 1999, limiting the margin to just 1,479 votes (out of 2,23,731) even on the latter's home turf, Tirupur. Only Coimbatore East, Coimbatore West and the Perur Assembly segments helped him secure the final 54,077-vote margin. This time round, both the main rivals are sons of the soil.

On the factional feud in BJP, party sources say the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had stepped in to patch up the differences so that the party could put up a show of unity.

The BJP State treasurer, S.R. Seghar, who is in charge of the election in Coimbatore, has denied reports of feuding and claimed that there was a unified campaign, in association with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the BJP's alliance partner.

The CPI scents an opportunity to capture the seat after a long gap. The Left parties have won the seat four times earlier. Parvati Krishnan won as the candidate of the undivided Communist Party in 1957. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate, K. Ramani, won in 1967, the CPI's K. Baladhandayutham in 1971 and Ms. Krishnan won again in the 1973 by-poll.

The Congress has also won the seat four times through P.R. Ramakrishnan (1962) and C.K. Kuppusamy (1984, 1989 and 1991).

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