As a post-Jayalalitha Tamil Nadu is gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls, women power in politics has not waned here even in the absence of the Lady who took on BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in 2014. Prominent women candidates like DMK's Kanimozhi and BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan will be in the fray in the state in these polls too. Actress Khushboo too would like to test her electoral fortunes if the Congress leadership gives the go-ahead.
In Thoothukudi
Smoke has not yet set over the coastal town of Thoothukudi, but electoral battle lines are getting drawn in the land still reeling from the police firing against the anti-Sterlite agitation that took the life of 33 persons, according to official estimates.
With none other than Kanimozhi, Rajya Sabha MP and daughter of late DMK leader Kalaigner Karunanidhi, poised to fight BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan, the constituency is sure to witness an interesting battle during the coming LS polls.
It is not just lyrical names that Kanimozhi and Tamilisai have in common. They also share some hefty political pedigree too.
Kanimozhi: Poet and ex-journalist has already served two terms as Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha.
Chances: Constituency is a traditional bastion of the DMK. The region was ‘adopted’ by Kanimozhi in her capacity as Rajya Sabha MP. She has been active in the party activities in the constituency for the past six months. The party is saying Kanimozhi might even be considered for the Deputy Prime Minister’s post in case DMK reaches a position to share power in the newly formed Government.
Tamilisai is the daughter of Kumari Ananthan, senior Congress leader and former TN PCC president. She is a doctor by profession. Though she has contested LS and Assembly elections thrice before, she ended up a loser always.
Chances: A powerful fighter. Even though BJP has barely 4 percent share of vote in the State, the party is getting a 30 percent share in media coverage. Tamilisai, who maintains an active profile in the constituency, will certainly make her presence felt in the polls.
Khushboo: Waiting for Rahul Gandhi’s nod
Actress Khushboo hardly looks her age, like the popular beauty soap advertisement says. But, the actor-politician who has turned 48 does not hide her political ambitions.
Khushboo and her fans are under the firm belief that the Congress High Command would give the go-ahead to her dreams of donning a new role – of an LS candidate. As the actor and her fans are waiting for a nod from the AICC, many in the party are sneering away at her dreams, as ‘’the most beautiful, improbable ones.”
Background: Born in Mumbai. Original name: Nakhat Khan. Acted as heroine of most of the stars including Rajanikanth and Kamal Hassan. Her fans have even built a temple in her name.
Political background: Joined the DMK with the blessings of Karunanidhi in 2000. But got ignored as Stalin gained upper hand in the party and subsequently she sought refuge in the Congress. Became an active presence on the TV channels as the spokesperson of the national party. She had hopes of getting the post of TN PCC working president, but received only that of joint convener of election campaign committee.
Challenge: Only 10 seats are allotted to Congress in the alliance with DMK and there is considerable strife for the available seats.
Amma's legacy
Who is the best ruler? Modi of Gujarat or the Lady of Tamil Nadu? This was the question that rose from Tamil Nadu during the last Lok Sabha polls.
And the answer was found in the poll results when the AIADMK grabbed a whopping 37 out of 39 seats from TN even in the midst of the Modi wave that swept up the whole country. And, the party also swept into power in the Assembly polls that came two years later.
Even in her absence, Jayalalitha proves to be one of the most important names that influence this LS polls as well. Of course, the party of Jayalalithaa who managed to block the Modi wave all by herself, has now sought the alliance of BJP, in order to overcome her absence. But BJP knows it too well, that to make any inroads into the Tamil politics, they cannot do away with the address of Jayalalithaa. Her picture looms large in all the posters and banners of the AIADMK alliance. Even MGR, the founder of the party, takes backseat there.
Chief Minister Edappady K Palaniswami takes extreme care to make his speeches replete with Amma’s name wherever possible. Even T T V Dinakaran, who formed a new party after breaking off from AIADMK, has taken care to find a place for Amma – the name of his party is none other than Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhakam.
