Ooty: While the 2G spectrum fame A. Raja is most likely to contest the 2019
Lok Sabha elections from Nilgiris (Reserved) constituency, it appears that the nagging internal feud and groupism among the DMK cadres in Nilgiris will make the path tough for him and the party.
A. Raja used to be an undisputed leader in the DMK in Nilgiris ever since he landed in Nilgiris to contest the 2009 LS polls. But by 2014-15 things began to change for the worse for DMK when there was change of guard in the district secretary level. K .Ramachandran, former minister and a tall order Badaga leader and DMK politician, who was holding the district secretary’s post in Nilgiris over a decade was replaced in 2014-15, when he was still Coonoor MLA.
Subsequently, he was denied the party ticket to contest again in 2016 Assembly elections from Coonoor as the DMK leadership preferred his arch rival and the present district secretary Mr Mubarak to contest the Assembly polls.
This further deepened the internal bickering in the DMK which witnessed unruly scenes among the rival groups and throwing of slippers at Mr. A. Raja when he arrived for an election meet in Kotagiri in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Badagas, who constitute the single largest ethnic community in Nilgiris, felt alienated by the DMK.
While the DMK lost the elections in Coonooor assembly segment in 2016, intra-party feuding still continues. If Mr A. Raja, chooses to contest again for Lok Sabha this time, he will have a tough time to win the confidence of the Badagas, feel observers.
