OOTY: After the 2G spectrum allocation case verdict acquitting all the accused, now the DMK in Nilgiris has begun to see the “Re-emergence of Raja” in Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency wherein he won in 2009, but lost in 2014 elections. However, Dr C.Gopalakrishnan (AIADMK) the incumbent of Nilgiris MP said that the verdict was far from welcome and he hoped that things would change in the appellant court.
When Nilgiris LS constituency was made a reserved one in 2009, A.Raja, had become the automatic choice of the DMK to contest in seat though he was seen as an outsider.
Of course, he won the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Nilgiris handsomely, and then onwards almost grew popular among the DMK cadres in the hills.
But, it was short-lived as by November 2010 he had to resign from the Union Cabinet over the 2-G spectrum row and indeed his image had taken a slump since then. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls Mr.Raja was defeated by a margin of over one lakh votes.
Now, the 2-G verdict, has given a new life to the DMK in Nilgiris and it hoped that verdict which made Raja to walk free will help boost DMK's electoral prospects in this hill district. Mr B.M. Mubarak, the Nilgiris district secretary of DMK, said that that the 2-G stigma played spoilsport with the DMK's prospects in last Lok Sabha polls. “Now, Raja will re-emerge as a strong force in Nilgiris and along with him the chances of DMK shining again in the political field here will certainly soar,” he said, exuding confidence.
However, for Mr C.Gopalakrishnan (AIADMK), incumbent MP of Nilgiris, the verdict is not palatable.
While talking to DC, he said, “The verdict is certainly not a welcome one. When the CBI prefers appeal in the higher courts, things hopefully will certainly change. We have to wait and watch,” he noted.
