Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections: Former AIADMK stalwarts sweat it out in Ramanathapuram, Theni

Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections: Former AIADMK stalwarts sweat it out in Ramanathapuram, Theni

O Panneerselvam became Chief Minister twice when the late AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa faced legal challenges, and once more after her death. All of these brief stints were made possible by his proximity to Jayalalithaa confidante VK Sashikala’s family.

Panneerselvam belongs to the same Thevar (Mukkulathor) community as Sashikala, and he fell out with the family only when he was asked to step down as Chief Minister for the third time to make way for Sashikala. (That Sashikala couldn’t take office after her conviction in a disproportionate assets case is another matter.) Now, however, he is back with the family, doing everything he can to oblige them as part of the BJP-led NDA.

The BJP strategy to gain influence in Tamil Nadu was to break the stranglehold of the Sashikala family on the AIADMK and have it led by a pliable Panneerselvam. It worked, but only in part. The Sashikala family was forced out of the AIADMK, but the new leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswamy slowly weaned itself away from the BJP, perhaps realising that too close a relationship with the national party would be self-defeating. And Paneerselvam was left in the lurch.

Now, the Sashikala family, politically led by Sashikala’s nephew TTV Dinakaran, is with the BJP, as is Panneerselvam. Panneerselvam asked his son P Ravindranath (now helping Dinakaran win), the sitting MP of Theni, to make way for Dinakaran, and he himself moved to Ramanathapuram to contest as an NDA-supported independent candidate.

Theni and Ramanathapuram are thus tied together in the 2024 election by this kinship of Panneerselvam and Dinakaran. The two are helping each other to win the two Constituencies, as Panneerselvam is a native of Theni and Dinakaran is a native of Mannargudi in Thiruvarur district, neighbouring Ramanathapuram, with a predominant Mukkulathor community. The much younger Dinakaran certainly enjoys the upper hand in the relationship, now as before.

Ramanathapuram last year gained prominence with the rumour that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest here because of Ram and Rameswaram connection. That did not materialise, and the BJP allotted the seat, which holds considerable significance for its religion-laced politics, to Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam has the support of the Thevar community which has a strong presence in Kamuthi, Sayalkudi and Thiruvadanai areas. A bonus for him is that Devenrakula Vellalars, rivals of Mukkulathors, are being cajoled to vote for him. Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder John Pandian, who is with the NDA, is working hard to get a sizable votes from this community although the AIADMK has the support of Puthiya Tamizhagam, a party of Devendrakula Vellalars led by K Krishnasamy. The BJP functionaries and Dinakaran supporters are also in the field to make Paneerselvam win with his jackfruit symbol.

Defending his seat and countering these efforts is the incumbent Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP K Navas Kani, a part of the INDIA bloc, led by the DMK in Tamil Nadu. He is said to have taken up some development work during his tenure, yet a lot of issues persist, especially with regards to fisherfolk, who are often caught and jailed by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in their waters. Muslim presence is seen in areas of Keelakarai, Erwadi and Ramanathapuram town.

Fishing community in the coastal region of the constituency is mostly represented by Christians. They are likely to vote for IUML or AIADMK, who has put a new entrant, P Jayaperumal. To garner votes from this community, Modi has raked up the Katchatheevu issue, with the BJP promising to retrieve the tiny islet.

An interesting feature in this constituency is there are five O Panneerselvams contesting as Independent candidates, allegedly to confuse voters. As an independent candidate contesting on a free symbol, Panneerselvam might face serious competition from his namesakes.

The AIADMK is quite strong in Theni, which includes the Assembly segment of Andipatti from where both the party founder and matinee idol MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa have won in the past. The party has fielded VT Narayansamy, relatively unknown in comparison to Dinakaran and the DMK candidate Thanga Tamilselvan, who also has roots in the AIADMK and was a protege of Dinakaran.

Dinakaran is hoping to tap into the AIADMK support base using his past association with the party, with Jayalalithaa and with the constituency (erstwhile Periyakulam). So will Tamilselvan, even if less overtly for fear of offending his leaders in the DMK. Narayansamy, banking on the two leaves symbol, will need to convince the voters that he is the true representative of the party founded by MGR and led by Jayalalithaa.

Dinakaran is certainly the star contestant, who has already served as Periyakulam MP (1999-2004) in the region as also as Rajya Sabha member. Born in Thiruthuraipoondi (Thiruvarur district) in the east, he was initially called an outsider. But, assisted by Panneerselvam and Tamilselvan, whom he had introduced to Jayalalithaa, Dinakaran found acceptance among the dominant Mukkulathor community in the picturesque hills of Theni district (Western Ghats). He established a rapport with the people and made various donations for social causes.

Tamilselvan is no less prominent and is known to have given up his Andipatti MLA post to make way for Jayalalithaa to contest in 2002. He is currently the DMK MLA from Andipatti and his party is leaving no stone unturned for his victory.

The fight is among three men, all with roots in the AIADMK. The voters are understandably divided in their loyalties.