Amma or Karnunanidhi? Post Poll anxiety grips Tamil Nadu

This is too early to predict the results. But still, high levels of public anxiety prevails as to who will sweep the polls. In constituency after constituency, a recurrent debate that’s doing the rounds is how much two powerful social forces called the freebie anxiety and TASMAC anxiety are going to influence the election results. Most ardent supporters lack any formal education or employment other than being part of some party welfare movement is a known truth.

Anyway, exit polls suggest that DMK will do well due to the recent floods that shook Chennai. Beneath the bedrock of support lies a deep sense of anxiety. What an irony if people had forgotten the ‘Spectrum’! And if that’s not the case, the wheel chair driven dravidian leader would be anxious lest their family circus is finished. And, always in the background, are worries about the possibility of another massive swindle of public money.

Exit polls can also be flawed because surveyors may resort to fake entries and even data fudging if they are personally inclined to a particular political outfit.
‘Arrival of spring’ or winter, lies sell well, especially during polls and by this time the people of TN should have known this well. According to many, it’s a triangular competition between the two Dravidian parties and a third front. Different political parties dominating different areas of the city is a fact and there is no need for any speculation on the outcome.

Welfare schemes or poll sops, every party has their long list. How far the voter is equipped to avail the welfare schemes is anybody’s doubt.
”Family rule is anathema to democracy”, rightly said because ‘the sun’ gets hidden behind clouds of infamy of corruption scandals not fully buried and forgotten. Again, a friend becoming a sister and a confidante to a CM who will go the extent of fostering fully grown 28 year old, then disowning him is still fresh in the minds of literate voters and all of them know such drama precarious for a democracy. Ostentation at public expense by misuse of power is also an anathema to democracy.

A big family created by 3 legal wives, children, grand and great grandchildren it’s too much on a frail 92 year old shoulder. How can taking just a rupee for salary sustain a “Grand” old man as this one? An outcome such as the two Dravidian giants being overtaken by a third front will look better.

The doled out welfare schemes are nothing in front of a 100 crore (approximate) extravaganza or a few billion dollars swindle by ‘spectrum’ kings.
‘Repeated lies cannot become a truth’ and a sizeable electorate know it too. Let’s wait and watch just as did for the past few decades.

Dr. Elsa Lycias Joel

The opinion expressed in this article are personal views of the author.