Era changes, but loyalty remains unchanged

From 1967, there had never been a single term when the national or other parties could capture power in the State. A notable aspect is that everything has changed right from issues, approach towards people and grievances and strategies for elections in tune with the present day media along with the top brass during the course of the 50 years from 1967. 

“Though several splinter groups took party avatars, not many managed to stay for a long time. But for the AIADMK no other party emerged as a formidable force against the DMK. A majority of the leaders, who hogged limelight, of such short-time parties ended up only merging their party with their parent organisation or were forgotten after a while,” says Vetrivendan, a member of DMK. 

“The speciality of the Dravidian majors, which have been ruling the State for the past 50 years, have always maintained their control and influence in the State. If you keenly go through the past elections from 1967, the vote percentage of the DMK and AIADMK have increased and on the flip side the national parties, especially Congress, Left and not to be left out BJP, have only gone down. Probably, the share of the national outfits might have climbed up or down depending on the alliance they entered into in the respective elections,” he points out.

Interestingly, 10 years later that is in 1977, the then ADMK, started by MGR, came to power and again ten years later in 1987 after the demise of MGR, the AIADMK split into two for a brief period. And now in 2017, five decades later, there is a leadership change in both the Dravidian majors opening a new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics. Interestingly, the new captains of both the camps are in their early 60s. To put it in a lighter vein, just like the December tragedy syndrome for the state, years ending with ‘7’ appear to be a period of ushering in changes in the state’s politics.