Date:10/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/10/stories/2006051005751001.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Vijayakant factor

The Vijayakant factor is an interesting revelation. His choice as Chief Minister by 10 per cent of the voters — third after M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa — is indeed surprising. That a political debutant could mobilise 10 per cent of the popular opinion in his party's favour almost evenly throughout the State belies the common belief that the people of Tamil Nadu choose only between the DMK- and the AIADMK-led alliances. The finding is indeed a silver lining in the politics of the State. It also has a lesson for the Left and other parties, which have failed to evolve independently and chosen to ride piggyback on either of the major parties. The Vijayakant factor shows there is still space, which the people wish to fill with some force that has the courage to provide an alternative.

Pon. Chandran,
Coimbatore