Dravidian Fort St George safe for now

The Dravidian fortress appears to be safe enough as yet another assembly poll approaches. The duopoly, with an unbroken run in the past 49 years, is unlikely to be broken. The early results of Gallup polls by various media organisations may be divided over which of the Dravidian majors will come through this time. What they are convinced about, however, is it will be one or the other of the two majors – AIADMK and DMK. Apart from the hold of the Tamil film industry, the other constant over close to half a century has been the domination of the Dravidian majors.

The cynic in the drawing rooms of Chennai and other urban centres may fret at the reign of this alternating Dravidian force. Some go to the extent of imagining NOTA is the greatest poll innovation ever because it allows them an option to ping a button and take out their angst.

This is the equivalent of the social media rant where pent-up anger has a ready release valve. But why queue up for this privilege when in effect it is not a vote for any of the candidates and the cool of the drawing room is much preferable to a queue under a scorching summer sun?

What the restless voters have this time out is the variety they always seemed to hanker for. If they don’t want to tick A or B, they have a huge number of choices. Not only is there a Third Front, a much touted national alternative that never really took off in India despite various claimants for germinating this idea, but also another national party in the fray in the BJP. And then there is a second party that is contesting all 234 seats not on its own symbol but absolutely on its own steam in the PMK.

The field has increased to a clear five fronts – 1.AIADMK with some minor allies contesting on its own ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. 2.DMK+ with the national party in the Congress in tow yet again after having divorced each other on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue just two years ago for the Parliamentary polls. 3.

The Third Front, labeled the People’s Welfare Alliance, with a spectrum of parties including the Left, however irrelevant they may have been rendered in the state poll scene, the quick tempered gun, Vijayakanth, with a real Captain’s role to play as presumptive Chief Minister candidate, plus the reluctant poll star Vaiko and Thirumavalavan’s VCK and last but not the least in G.K. Vasan and his TMC. 4.BJP+ a minor player like IJK. 5.PMK with Dr Anbumani Ramadoss projected before anyone else apart from the reigning CM as a candidate for the top seat in Fort St George.

There are as many as five major buttons to press, which probably gives more impetus to the impossible dream of the professional conductors of the poll in the Election Commission of India in trying to get everyone – 100% and not one whit less – into the polling booth at the height of summer’s Agni Nakshathram. Maybe, that is as fancy as imagining it could snow in Chennai, although they do say that it had snowed here 200 years ago to believe which is like believing the Dravidian duopoly has ended, although it is likely the fact will be recorded in a history capsule when opened a few decades from now.

For the voters who say there is so little choice that the trek to the polling booth is a waste of time can consider the fact that now they face a multitude of choices. A five-way contest plus Independents and the game spoiler NOTA would mean the EVMs will present a lot more buttons to press. There will be less of a reason not to vote next Monday. The power of the ballot is enhanced every time the democratic exercise is held. So, do vote even if you feel the real choice is constricted because it will be one or the other.