DMK's Payya Krishnan Vs AIADMK's PRG Arunkumar to compete in Kavundampalayam, the 2nd largest constituency in Tamil Nadu.
DMK's Payya Krishnan Vs AIADMK's PRG Arunkumar to compete in Kavundampalayam, the 2nd largest constituency in Tamil Nadu.
Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu is all set for the upcoming assembly election due on April 6, to be held in a single phase. In 2016 assembly elections, the ruling party witnessed a monumental victory by wining nine out of ten constituencies in Coimbatore district. Also, a notable increase in vote percentage compared to the 2011 assembly election.
As AIADMK and DMK are all set to for a battle field in the absence of their leaders J.Jayalalitha and M. Karunanidhi, both the Dravidian parties have taken time to meticulously plan to seal their seat-sharing agreements and candidate selection.
And, for the first time both the juggernauts are working with political strategists to help shape their campaign for the elections. After being in the opposition for a decade, the DMK has roped in political strategist Prashant Kishor's Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and AIADMK government has roped in strategist Sunil Kanugolu, a former consultant with McKinsey, has earlier been a key member of the 2014 Narendra Modi election campaign, along with Prashant Kishor. Sunil was also the strategist during DMK's parliamentary election sweep after which DMK roped in Prashant Kishore. This entry of strategists into political decision making has helped DMK to not field candidates with dubious track records again in Coimbatore.
Kavundampalayam Constituency
The second largest constituency in Tamil Nadu. the present Lok Sabha MP of Coimbatore is P.R. Natarajan, (CPM) and the sitting MLA is V.C.Arukutty from AIADMK.
Both in 2011 and 2016 assembly elections, VC Arukutty the current MLA won the elections of this constituency. In the last elections, he secured 1,10,870 votes and defeated his rival by a smallish margin. DMK's Payya R.Krishnan secured 1,02,845 votes.
The two-time MLA V.C.Arukutty, had filed his letter of interest to the party to contest in the upcoming 2021 elections, as well. As he was unwell for a long time during his present tenure, it was speculated that he will not compete this elections. However, to everyone's surprise, he filed his application to the party. In an attempt to field another successful candidate in his constituency, the party named PRG Arunkumar, the current AIADMK MLA of Coimbatore North Constituency, as the candidate for Arukutty's constituency.
Perturbed by the party's decision to sideline VC Arukutty, his supporters expressed their dissent by staging an agitation demanding the party high command to revoke the decision.
Meanwhile, the DMK has fielded Payya Krishnan as the candidate for the constituency. Again, not a new face for the constituency, Payya Krishnan had been actively involved in various social works in the constituency, before and during the pandemic. Both PRG Arun Kumar and Payya Krishnan are lauded as 'clean' candidates and hence a tough fight awaits.
In 2016 assembly election, P.RG. Arunkumar won Coimbatore North by defeating DMK candidate Meena Logu with a margin of 76,454 votes.
Speaking to Simplicity, the sitting MLA of Kavundampalayam V.C.Arukutty told "Though, I feel sidelined, I totally respect the party's decision to allot seat to P.R.G Arunkumar. Whatsoever, AIADMK will win massively at every constituency in Tamil Nadu."
DMK's comeback
Political analysts predict that DMK has a good chance to make its comeback in the constituency, which is the second largest constituency in Tamil Nadu in terms of votes. They also opine that candidates from Makkal Needhi Maiyam, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, DMDK and Naam Tamilar Katchi will split AIADMK votes more than DMK.
Speaking to SimpliCity, Aazhi Senthilnathan, Senior Journalist and a Political Analyst opined that the political climate is very favourable for DMK to make a grand re-entry not just in this constituency but across all constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
When questioned if parties like MNM will attract neutral voters, he plainly said "the fight is only between AIADMK and DMK and added that anti-incumbency will be the game changer."
Though that might hold some truth in rest of Tamilnadu, with MNM party leader and Star candidate Kamal Haasan contesting in Coimbatore South constituency, the battleground for all constituencies is totally heated up.
With DMK allotting seven constituencies to its candidates in Coimbatore district (CBE North, Singanallur, Thondamuthur, Pollachi, Kavundampalayam, Kinathukadavu, Mettupalayam) it is speculated that the party will win in a majority of the constituencies including Kavundampalayam. According to Times now C-Voter pre-poll survey, the DMK alliance is expected to win as many as 158 seats while the AIADMK alliance is only predicted to win 65 seats,
Seconding the survey results, a Senior Journalist who spoke to SimpliCity upon condition of anonymity, told "Overall people from all walks of life are under distress by the ruling AIADMK-BJP alliance.People are eager to see a change in governance.This climate promises good chances for DMK, as it is the only party that has the capability to fulfil the needs of the people", he added.
With DMK and AIADMK fielding fitting candidates in Kavundampalayam constituency, the fight for this important constituency has heated up and cadres have geared up to kick-start their campaign.