Madurai: Women’s rights activists are enthused over the nomination of U. Vasuki by CPI(M) to contest in Madurai West constituency. She was instrumental in getting justice for schoolgirls who were sexually harassed by a headmaster at Pothumbu and has also figured prominently in the struggle against untouchability at Uthapuram in Madurai district. Local party functionaries may see her as an 'outsider' but she is a popular enough figure here among women.
A section of party functionaries expressed resentment over fielding an outsider and blamed it on the internal feud in the CPI(M) Madurai unit. “Nobody doubts Vasuki's commitment to the welfare of the downtrodden across the state, but fielding an outsider only reflects badly on the local unit. The local leadership has also failed to retain the Madurai south constituency where it won the last election,” they said.
Vasuki, 59, a member of the Marxist party's Central Committee and national vice president of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), has been fighting for social justice and women rights since 1977 as a party activist.
“Though Vasuki madam belongs to Tiruchy, she is a familiar figure in Madurai because she spearheaded various struggles in the temple city even for basic issues of people like old-age pension,” said S.K. Poonuthai, state secretary of AIDWA, Madurai.
During her Madurai visits, Vasuki ensures that she pays special attention to women and children issues. “She was instrumental in exposing the sexual harassment of girl students by the headmaster at Pothumbu in 2011,” she said.
Poonuthai also feels Vasuki is the right choice to fight against the former AIADMK Minister Sellur K Raju in Madurai West because he has not managed to improve even the basic amenities in the last 5 years.
“Due the lack of public toilet facilities in the constituency, two children were killed by a moving train when they went out for open defecation near the railway track,” she claimed.
In the past, CPI(M) had won Madurai East five times and in Madurai North, West and South once each. Veteran leaders like P. Ramamurthi, N Sankariah and N. Nanmaran were elected to the TN Assembly from Madurai.
Ironically, CPI, which has less vote share as compared to CPI(M) in Madurai, has managed to get two seats, but the Marxists got only one seat, that too for an outsider, cadres pointed out.
Dismissing this allegation, R. Jothiraman, CPI(M) state committee member, argued that the party is intact in Madurai. “We have unanimously decided to allocate Madurai West constituency for Vasuki to ensure women’s participation in the Assembly,” he said.
He added that the question of “outsider” doesn't arise in the Communist party because all party functionaries work only for the betterment of the working class.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle Vasuki said, “For me all places are one and the same. My only concern is to work for the welfare of the subaltern.” She said she would rent a house in Madurai after being elected to the Assembly in order to closely work with the locals.
