November 19 poll, key battle for arch rivals

According to some political analysts, the AIADMK must make right choice of candidates and also increase the number of field workes, . DMK which has emerged as a strong opposition party with a small difference in number in the assembly polls, has planned to secure the seats by all means. 

Though the strategy of DMK cannot be predicted, their tactical workforce during election and campaigning seasons, will make an impact during the polls, opine some veteran observers. It is unlikely that the Chief Minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa may come for campaign to these two seats due to her health conditions. Undoubtedly, this may be a setback for the party in both the assembly segments. 

As of now, the DMK camp, said that there may not be a possibility of change in candidates in Thanjavur as well as Aravakurichi as Dr Anjugam Boopathy and KC Palanisamy are prominent among the voters already. But the candidates in AIADMK should be carefully selected as Senthil Balaji’s (Aravakurichi candidate) does not command much influence among the voters in his constituency and Rangasamy (Thanjavur candidate) is also facing some negative prospects. 

Meanwhile, political commentators said that Thanjavur is a fortress of the DMK as it had won eight times out of the total 14 elections it contested and three times by Congress. AIADMK had won only two times, once in 1991 and then in 2011. 

However, speculations are on that TTV Dinakaran, a close relative of Sasikala, might be fielded in Thanjavur. Still, the AIADMK has to put in more effort to win the election.

Similarly, Aravakurichi, which hit the headlines reportedly for severe bribing of voters, is likely to be a tough patch for the AIADMK as the minority community people, especially the Muslims, who have a sizable population in the constituency, may back the DMK. The election to the two seats is going to be a major exercise for the AIADMK owing to the uncertainty over the campaign by the Chief Minister.