Will 1971 poll history in TN repeat in 2019 elections too?

While the Opposition DMK, which benefitted decades ago, would hope to rewrite history, the ruling AIADMK would wish for a repeat of the same. Both camps have a reason for revisiting 1971, thanks to some glaring similarities between the political climate in the state then and now.

Incidentally, religious faith was a poll factor on both instances. And the DMK was prompted to clarify its religious allegiance because of Dravidar Kazhagam’s (DK) acts.

Just like incumbent DMK president MK Stalin had slammed the ruling party alliance for branding his party “anti-Hindu” after DK president K Veeramani had recently deconstructed Lord Krishna’s role in Mahabarath publicly, then ally Congress led by Indira Gandhi, who was also the Prime Minister then, had to respond to slippering of Lord Ram portraits by Periyar’s DK in the distant past.

When Indira was inquired about the Salem slippering incident, she retorted, “Who did it.” When reporters pointed out that it was done by EV Ramasamy (Periyar) led DK, the belligerent PM tersely replied, “He has been doing it for long,” silencing critics who forecast that the roots of DMK would eat into Congress Hindu vote bank.

In the same vein, seat sharing talks between the DMK and Congress led by Indira was a near spoiler for the alliance even then. Karunanidhi and Indira had managed to cobble up alliance after a 45-minute late night telecon, hours after former Congress CM Bhaktavatasalam and C Subramaniam announced candidates in protest of the DMK unwilling to scale up the initial 7 Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly-seat offer. Karunanidhi, who had called for snap polls obliging Indira, had clinched the deal with her for just 10 Lok Sabha seats, unlike his son Stalin who had apportioned 10 seats to retain Sholingur Assembly seat by reducing his tally to 20 Lok Sabha seats.

Ironically, a relatively inexperienced DMK plus Indira took on a formidable alliance of Kamarajar and Rajagopalachari, the same way an experienced DMK is now facing a ‘strong’ AIADMK alliance comprising PMK, DMDK, PT and BJP. Curiously, the ruling alliance (DMK-Congress) secured 213 Assembly seats and Indira stormed back to power at the Centre, trouncing the experienced opposition of Kamarajar’s Congress and Rajaji’s Swatantra Party. Will history be repeated or rewritten would be answered when the votes of the Lok Sabha and mini-Assembly bypolls are counted on May 23.