Floated against the Congress, these outfits carry the anti-Congress program in their very DNA. However, they are now either already in the Congress alliance or are not averse to forge partnership with the grand old party post the Lok Sabha election results 23 May.
Author: M Bhaskar Sai
May 17. It was on this day a decade ago LTTE was defeated by Sri Lankan forces in the ethnic war that lasted for years, claiming many lives on both sides.
With a section of psephologists and political experts predicting a fractured mandate in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, results of which will be known 23 May, all eyes are on the heads of regional parties due to two post-poll scenarios.
Like how the IPL final witnessed a big fight between two strong teams – Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians – the 19 May by-election to four Assembly seats in the State is seeing a straight battle between the two big parties in Tamilnadu – the ruling AIADMK and the principal opposition, DMK.
A rough estimate by ‘News Today’Â shows 42 contestants (20 in AIADMK alliance and 22 in DMK front) might aspire a berth in the Union government.
“There will be no problem if we win more than eight seats (in the by-elections to 22 Assembly constituencies) and we are almost sure about posting victory in at least 10 places. But, still, we are ready for the worst case scenario,” says an AIADMK insider.
While the AIADMK is keen to retain power, the Opposition DMK is determined to make a comeback at Fort St George after the results of by-elections in 22 constituencies are announced 23 May.
The continuance of the AIADMK government, led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, which is already surviving on a wafer-thin majority, will be decided 23 May. In the 234-member House, Palaniswami needs the support of at least 118 MLAs for a simple majority.
Fireworks are in store in the ruling AIADMK and the main Opposition DMK after the election results are announced 23 May, as the high command of these Dravidian majors have received complaints from cadres about non-performers and cheats.