Chennai: AIADMK rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran may be in the spotlight after his massive victory in RK Nagar bypoll, but he owes the result as much to his boldness as to the untiring efforts of three musketeers.
P. Vettrivel
Former RK Nagar MLA and north Chennai strongman P. Vettrivel was instrumental in sketching the poll campaign schedule for the bypoll. He was also the pointsman for former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa when she contested twice in the labour-dominated constituency. The former MLA ensured that all the fishing hamlet representatives had a dialogue with T.T.V. Dhinakaran. He also had a plan B, whenever the police picked up his trusted lieutenants involved in poll activities by replacing party functionaries who also had their ear to the ground. He also ensured that the booth agents of TTV remained intact on the day of polling.
Senthil Balaji and Palaniappan
Two former ministers Senthil Balaji and Palaniappan, who were recently disqualified as MLAs, faced the maximum pressure on the day of counting inside the Queen Mary's College. They were seen pleading with TTV supporters not to respond to the provocation and the ruckus that broke out inside the counting hall. Balaji was seen crying foul with the central poll observers whenever there was tension inside the counting station. During the campaign, both the former ministers brought in a large number of supporters from their native districts. Palaniappan ensured that none of the counting agents of TTV moved away from the centre on D-day.
