Tamil Nadu, Puducherry high-voltage election campaign ends, polls to be held on April 6

A high-voltage campaign for the crucial April 6 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the midst of the global novel coronavirus pandemic drew to a close on Sunday evening with leaders of various parties ending their electioneering either in their native towns or constituencies.

While AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wound up his campaign in his native Salem appealing to the electorate to vote on his performance, DMK leader M K Stalin at a public meeting in Chennai appealed to people to give him one chance to serve the people.

This is the first Tamil Nadu Assembly election in the absence of towering leaders such as former Chief Ministers J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. The State is witnessing is a five cornered contest to elect 234 legislators.

While the AIADMK front



comprises the BJP, PMK and smaller parties; the DMK is heading a rainbow alliance of the Congress, MDMK, two Left parties, two Muslim parties, MDMK and others. Actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is in alliance with a few smaller parties. TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam has joined hands with Vijayakant’s DMDK, Owaisi’s AIMIM and the SDPI. Film director Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi has fielded an equal number of male and female candidates across the State.

By and large though, this election is seen as a straight contest between the AIADMK, which has ruled the State for the last 10 years, and the DMK, which is keen on returning to power. The other three players are expected to play spoilsport depending on their strengths in urban and rural areas or on the basis of support from caste influenced voters.