Delta districts may see triangular contests

Nagapattinam: The delta districts were once known to be a hotbed of Communist movements against the dominant landlords and caste oppression.

But, the Left parties have seen large scale erosion in their support base due to their forming alliances with either the AIADMK or DMK to win a few seats.

However, the CPM and CPI are still holding on to some areas and turning the polls into a triangular contest in the region.

The DMK seems to be strong in Tiruvarur district, but finding the going in Thanjavur very tough, while the parties are locked in multi-cornered contests in Nagapattinam district. The tussle in Nagapattinam district is the most interesting in the region with triangular, four-cornered or even five-cornered battles. Two constituencies Nagapattinam and Kilvelur are witnessing keen three-cornered battles among AIADMK, DMK and DMDK-PWA fronts.  

The Nagapattinam district is one of the weakest areas for Vijayakanth’s DMDK in the State and the party has polled only between 4 and 6 per cent votes when it contested alone in the 2009 Parliament elections.

The MDMK too has secured between two to three per cent votes in the district in 2001 Assembly elections. But, the Left parties with their good presence, committed cadre and backing of agricultural workers are giving a good fight to the Dravidian majors.

In Poomphhar, Sirkazhi and Mayiladuthurai, the electoral battle becomes four-cornered as PMK too puts up a good show and campaigning vigorously. The fight turns out to be five-cornered in Vedaranyam as the BJP too is in the reckoning with a powerful candidate Vedarathinam, a former strongman in the DMK.

In Tiruvarur district, it is a three-way race between the AIADMK, DMK and PWA-DMDK fronts. Here too, the DMDK’s vote share in the past is between 6 and 7 in all the four seats, Thiruthuraipoondi, Tiruvarur, Nannilam and Mannargudi. Barring Mannargudi, the MDMK too does not seem to have a good base. But, the CPI appears to be ahead of others in its stronghold Thiruthuraipoondi. In both Nannilam and Mannargudi, the DMK and AIADMK alliances are locked in stiff contests.

In Tiruvaur, where the DMK chief M.Karunanidhi is seeking re-election, the CPI candidate Masilamani, who has a good image in the area, is likely to split the DMK leader’s votes and reduce the DMK chief’s victory margin this time.  
In Thanjavur district, which has eight constituencies, the race is between the AIADMK and DMK in five seats-Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur and Orathanadu. The DMDK, MDMK and Left parties are weak in the five seats, even though TMC adds some strength to ensure a good chunk of votes for the alliance.

In Pattukottai and Peravurani, the good presence of MDMK and DMDK makes the contest as a triangular one. Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi in Thiruvidaimarudhur is eliciting a good response from the people and involved in a keen three-way battle.