Chennai: Two weeks ago, in Madurai’s Tirupparankundram constituency, VK Sasikala, the confidante of former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalithaa, signaled a clear mission for the April 23 assembly election: wooing Thevars, a dominant OBC community in southern and central regions of the state, a bloc once seen as the backbone of AIADMK’s support. Through her campaign, Sasikala, who only last month founded a new outfit, All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, has consistently targeted AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. Sasikala feels there are many in the community unhappy with EPS. She has also tied up with PMK founder S Ramadoss. Both share a sense of betrayal — Sasikala was sidelined in AIADMK after Jayalalithaa’s death, while Ramadoss has lost control of the PMK to his son. Sasikala has fielded 75 candidates, around 50% of them in the Thevar belt. Ramadoss has fielded candidates in 37 constituencies across the Vanniyar belt, including Dharmapuri, where his daughter-in-law Sowmiya Anbumani is in the fray. Vanniyars are a politically influential and numerically significant group in northern Tamil Nadu, comprising roughly 25% of the total population. Like Sasikala, the PMK veteran is also expected to play spoilsport for the AIADMK front, as he is targeting his son Anbumani Ramadoss, president of PMK, which is part of the opposition alliance. With the state witnessing a multi-cornered contest, even a split of around 1,000 votes could tilt results, say political observers. In 2021, the victory margin was less than 3,000 votes in 25 constituencies. Ramadoss has been making emotional statements, accusing Anbumani of betraying him. His candidates continue their campaign targeting Anbumani more than political opponents. “Sasikala’s criticism of Palaniswami and his supporters over her removal from the party post will have an impact. Similarly, you cannot erase Ramadoss and his four decades of politics for the community. Together, they will certainly act as spoilers for the AIADMK led front in the northern, delta and southern districts,” said political critic Rajan Kurai Krishnan. Besides Sasikala and Ramadoss, Puthiya Tamilagam founder K Krishnaswamy has fielded candidates in around 60 constituencies in the western and southern regions. He also targets AIADMK. Meanwhile, Tamiliga Vazhvurimai Katchi functionary T Velmurugan, after exiting the DMK-led front, has fielded candidates in several segments.
