Local body polls crucial for AIADMK

Chennai

Though the cadre still profess loyalty to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her schemes, insiders say the real yardstick for the party will be the local body polls anticipated in October this year. “This will be the real measure of the strength of the ruling party as local issues will figure prominently and decide candidates’ fortunes,” says political analyst M. George. And with the DMK expected to highlight local issues in the assembly, immediate remedial action for various lapses is a must, party men feel.  

“The recent plus two and SSLC results revealed that Vellore district stood at the bottom, though it is the native district of former school education minister K C Veeramani who has now been allotted the powerful commercial taxes and registration portfolio,” George said. It is such changes that irk party men who feel that many who toiled for the party right from its inception have been sidelined. Insiders reveal that the most affected are former party HQ speakers  like Govindan of Polur (whom finance minister O Paneerselvam carried on his cycle’s pillion for party meetings in earlier days), Khalil Basha of Tiruvannamalai, Master Murugesan of Salem, Peer Mohammed of Chennai and Sundara Pandian of Vadugapatti.

With the AIADMK’s vote share being just 40.8 per cent to the DMK’s 39.7 per cent the balance can tilt towards the latter in  the local body polls, sources say.