Cooker and rising sun mount pressure on ruling party

However, the way in which the bypoll on December 21 will swing will be decided in the last 48 hours ahead of voting, depending on the Election Commission’s ability to check the flow of cash to voters.

So far, parties had rained money mostly on the workers involved in the campaign, besides those taking part in the processions. But, voters in the constituency are confident of ‘cash showers’ once it is clear that bypoll will not be cancelled.

With four more days remaining for campaigning, Dinakaran, who appeared to be a non-starter after losing the ‘Two Leaves’ and ‘Hat’ symbols, has gained a lot of ground with his new ‘pressure cooker’ symbol. With ‘cooker processions’ every day at the nook and corner of the constituency, women seek votes for Dinakaran who had toured around the area in open vehicles, displaying the symbol. The most adverse survey predictions give him over 16 per cent and other surveys predict over 25 per cent support for him. Even going by the adverse predictions, the votes he erodes is certain to make a huge dent in the AIADMK’s vote bank giving a clear edge to the DMK.

His projection as a man harassed by a powerful Union government had drawn the backing of the minorities and fishermen, besides earning the sympathy of AIADMK’s women voters.

However, the DMK and its allies too are likely to run a similar anti-saffron campaign breaking Dinakaran’s claim to be the major fighter against the BJP. Leader of Opposition MK Stalin is to commence his three-day campaign from December 17 and his interaction with voters is certain to swing the voters in DMK’s favour.