Coimbatore: Unlike any other elections in Tamil Nadu, the 2021 assembly elections is witnessing massive twists and turns every passing minute. The consolidated list of contestants for the 16th legislative assembly elections to be held on April 6 is oscillating, with nomination dates starting from today, March 12.
Coimbatore: Unlike any other elections in Tamil Nadu, the 2021 assembly elections is witnessing massive twists and turns every passing minute. The consolidated list of contestants for the 16th legislative assembly elections to be held on April 6 is oscillating, with nomination dates starting from today, March 12.
While AIADMK has announced their list of candidates and their prominent alliances BJP and PMK, heated discussions still continues in DMK alliance. Speculations are high that the party might announce the complete list of candidates by today evening.
However, since the seat allocation DMK's major ally Congress was announced, the Coimbatore District DMK members are left dejected, as Coimbatore South, the much sought after constituency has yet again been allotted to Congress.
Not just DMK, displeasure prevails amid a part of congress cadres in Coimbatore who say they are unable to celebrate the moment as Mayura S Jayakumar, might be announced as the candidate for the constituency. Apparently, a 'poor' choice, say a part of Congress cadres.
Chit-chats among the irked Congress party members suggest Shobana Selvan, the ex-councillor of Singanallur (2006-2011) as the apt contestant to defeat Vanathi Srinivasan from BJP, whose is the speculated candidate for CBE South.
The Congress cadres also suggest senior party leaders like MN Kandasamy and VMC Manoharan. "Leaders like MN Kandasamy are well known among the masses. Though their long-standing integrity and dedication to the party makes them deserving candidates, the party should consider providing opportunities for new faces like Shobana Selvan who also have an incredible and clean record, they say.
When questioned on why Mayura Jayakumar is not their choice, a party member who has worked for congress in over 6 elections, laments at Mayura's previous defeats and says he lacks the will to fight and not the 'people's choice'. The party member who upon anonymity also accused that Mayura has 'not in anyway' taken care of the party workers, during election work.
They also note that Mayura Jayakumar's closeness to TN Congress leader KS Alagiri has helped him gain a ticket, inspite of his previous repeated failures. "Giving tickets to the same faces is very discouraging to the other potential hard-working candidates who are always put on waiting list."
Mayura Jayakumar has lost to R. Chinnasamy of AIADMK by 34,326 votes. And in 2016 state assembly elections Mayura who was then given a ticket in South Constituency lost to Amman K Arjunan from AIADMK by 17, 419 votes. He has also lost in the Councillor election in 2001.
Citing his defeat in the previous elections, another party cadre insisted that the Congress should go for a new face instead of pushing the same candidate, rejected by the people multiple times.
Seconding him, another party cadre was of the opinion that if BJP freezes Vanathi Srinivasan as their candidate, then another woman candidate from Congress will make it a tough fight.
Shobana Selvan who comes from a reputed background is not only a 'clean' candidate but very 'talented', she would be a natural fit for the role, opined a woman cadre from Coimbatore Congress.
Disagreeing to all the above accusations and opinions, supporters of Mayura Jayakumar are 100 percent hopeful that his name is on the list. "He has been the face of the Coimbatore Congress party for over a decade. Even as the leadership of the Congress party is under crisis, Mayura Jayakumar had held up the spirit of the party cadres, here. Be it a protest or standing by the people during unprecedented times like this pandemic, he has been a notable representative of the Congress party, here."
He added that comparing his previous defeats to this elections is 'foolish'. "Unlike, any other time, the dissent of people against BJP is at an all time high, and this will deliver victory to the Congress", he said.
It may be noted that in 2011, Congress workers took to streets in Coimbatore protesting against fielding of Mayura Jayakumar in the Singanallur constituency.
While displeasure is all over the Congress election office, the same mood prevails at DMK South election office who are in shock and dejection, by the party's decision to allot the ticket for Congress. Supporters of Meena Jayakumar who was expected to be announced as the candidate of the south Constituency representing DMK along with overall DMK candidates are not only upset over the party's decision but say its a 'disastrous' decision.