Tamil
Nadu elections topple Jaya
THE
ruling Congress (I) and Chief Minister Jayalalitha's AIADMK alliance is
heading for defeat in the April elections in the southern Indian state of
Tamil Nadu. Over 42 million people are eligible to vote to elect 39 Members
of Parliament and 234 members of the state assembly.
When renewal
of the alliance was announced by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on 27 March
all hell broke lose in Tamil Nadu. Congress (I) strongman GK Moopanar walked
out forming a new party, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) and joining the
opposition alliance led by M Karunanidhi's DMK. Local Congress members
were so furious that huge cut-outs of Mr Rao were smashed and set ablaze. The
new alignment was strengthened when popular film star Rajnikanth declared
his support.
Ms Jayalalitha has come under severe criticism for
her autocratic rule and corruption. Last year, while poverty-stricken
people looked on, Ms Jayalalitha conducted her adopted son's wedding in
grand style spending some Rs 60 million. Recently Jayalalitha aides were
implicated in a Rs 300 million fraud involving the Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation.
She has consistently blamed Sri Lankan Tamil refugees for security problems.
The
Sri Lankan conflict seems to have lost its power as an electoral issue despite
LTTE leader V Prabhakaran's letter to Tamil Nadu political leaders after
Operation Sunray in December seeking support. But the election manifestos
of both DMK and AIADMK promise intervention with New Delhi to solve the Sri
Lankan Tamil problem.
Observers say that in recent months LTTE
has been following a policy of rapprochement with India. Some Tamils believe
that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India may have more sympathy
for the predominantly Hindu Sri Lankan Tamil community.
Throughout
India 590 million people are eligible to vote and candidates of 443 parties
are vying for 543 seats in the Lok Sabha or lower house of Parliament. Analysts
predict a hung Parliament. The third force, the National Front-Left Front
alliance and the regional parties may play a vital role in the formation of
the next Indian government.
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