2G impact in TN: DMK set to lose

New Delhi, May 13: The first elections after the 2G spectrum scam surfaced appears to have had its devastating impact on the fortunes of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu.

The issue of corruption appeared to have brought down the tally of an upbeat Congress-led UDF to some extent in Kerala where trends indicate that it was ahead of the ruling LDF.

The assembly polls in Tamil Nadu were held against the backdrop of the scam in which the prime accused is former Telecom Minister A Raja, a trusted lieutenant of DMK chief and outgoing Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, whose daughter Kanimozhi is also charged in the scam.

In the campaign in the southern state, AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, who is all set to capture power, made the "family rule" of 86-year old Karunanidhi her single point poll plank which included the 2G issue.

Political analysts have insisted that the term family rule could help connect Jayalalithaa to the masses than the 2G scam which was an issue apparently restricted only to urban voters.

Incidentally, the assembly elections were seen as the last such exercise for wheel-chair bound Karunanidhi who was seeking to make his son and Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin his successor.

Karunanidhi's elder son M K Alagiri as also his grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran are Union Ministers while a special court is expected to decide on the bail plea of Kanimozhi tomorrow in the 2G issue.

In the 2006 assembly polls, the DMK had won 96 seats as against 61 by AIADMK in the 234 member assembly and 34 seats by ally Congress had helped Karunanidhi to form the government.

In Kerala, the strategy of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to harp on the issue of corruption through various forms appeared to have created problems for the UDF which appeared to have a smooth sailing just six months before the polls.

87-year old Achuthanandan, known for his clean image, turned a crusader on a variety of issues including punishment meted out by the court to former Electricity Minister R Balakrishna Pillai, the assets of relatives of former Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and the ice cream parlour sex scandal allegedly involving a senior Muslim League leader P K Kunjalikutty.

PTI