A Raja’s fortune hangs in balance in Ooty seat

Ooty: Though ten candidates are in the fray in the Nilgiris (SC) constituency, it appears that the fight has narrowed down to a contest between the DMK and AIADMK. The AMMK and MNM are hopeful of making waves.

For A. Raja, the DMK candidate, his sojourn with the Nilgiris constituency began with a bang in 2009 when he romped home easily in the DMK-Congress alliance. Though he defeated MDMK candidate in 2009 by a margin of 86,000 votes, in the 2014 elections, carrying the 2G stigma, he lost badly to the AIADMK by 1.06 lakh margin. Of this, nearly 90,000 was in the three assembly segments in the plains.

This year, though Mr. Raja is facing voters with confidence as he was acquitted in the lower court in the 2-G spectrum case, opposition parties still remind voters about the scam and the appeal pending in the High Court of Delhi. The DMK is hopeful that the alliance with the Congress and other parties will raise its vote share this elections. It hopes that the farm loan waiver scheme announced in the Congress manifesto would do the trick.  

Mr. Raja could not do much to the constituency when elected in 2009 as he spent some days in prison. He now looks to be in need of big support from voters this poll, to put his fortunes back on track.

M. Thiyagarajan, AIADMK candidate, who is a native of Avinashi, is pinning hopes on the various welfare schemes of the AIADMK government

to bring him votes. As Mettupalayam, Avinashi and Bhavanisagar assembly segments in the plains are known AIADMK bastions, he is hopeful of garnering the support of farmers due to the sops announced by the BJP for the agriculture sector.

The Avinashi-Athikadavu water scheme initiated recently by the AIADMK government is expected to bring it a good chunk of votes.

M. Ramaswamy, AMMK candidate, is hopeful that “TTV’s” magic will help him to make waves. Kamal Haasan's MNM, which is way behind in electioneering, needs luck to smile on it to make it big.