Assembly Elections '06

Five states in India are facing Assembly Polls - Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal. Call it coincidence or anything, if you look at the profile of these states, they have always been dominated by two parties. In TN and Pondicherry, it has always been one of the two regional parties - AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) or DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), Kerala - CPI(M) (Communist Party of India) or the Congress, West Bengal - CPI (M) all the way and Assam - Congress or the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad). It is strange to see that BJP(Bharatiya Janata Party) doesn't fit in the scheme of things in any of the states.

Tamil Nadu is one place to be during the election time. The campaign level hits new heights with tall promises and party bashing taken to extreme levels, with each party trying to outbid the other through verbal volleys. TN has always been at the center of excitement with unpredictable pre-poll coalitions. Who would have thought that MDMK(Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) would tie up with the AIADMK! After all, it was Jayalalitha who had put the MDMK chief Vaiko behind bars during 2002 under POTA for his fiery allegiance towards the LTTE in his speeches. That took the nation by storm for he was the first Parliamentary member to be meted out with detention under POTA. Three years down the line, the story takes a U-turn with the ADMK and MDMK coming together. Political dreams can turn foes to friends and friends to foes very easily. DMK is contesting the elections with the Congress and the PMK(Pattali Makkal Katchi). If you are not able to read English boards in Tamil Nadu, you can thank the PMK chief Ramadoss for his pro-Tamil affinity. Why? I can't fathom the reason for anything in the world! It is tough to figure out whether it is his love towards the Tamil language or hatred towards English that is forcing him to smash the milestones on National Highways. DMK has been having a tough time leading up to the elections. Sarath Kumar, one of Tamil cinema's leading actors, along with his wife Radhika (another top notch actress) have moved out of the DMK citing indifferent treatment meted out to them by DMK cadres. AIADMK is the new destination for their aspiring political dreams. Simran, once reigning queen in Tamil cinema is putting her weight behind the AIADMK supremo, Jayalalitha. Why is everyone moving out of the DMK? Is DMK a leaderless party after Karunanidhi? Where are the second rung leaders in the DMK?

Now that the pre-poll exit polls are having a tough time in predicting who will come to power, there is a small glitch for both the parties through reel life hero who might turn the tables - Vijayakanth (big name in Tamil Cinema) who has launched his party DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam). He has done a smart thing by not aligning with both the parties. He is fielding candidates in all the constituencies without the aid of the big guns. Even the BJP should be appreciated in this regard, as they have experienced both of them in different elections.

West Bengal might once again see the CPI back in power. After all, things haven't changed here in the last 30 years (why?). So, why now? Kerala will be wrestling with Congress and CPI for the next 100 years. Things will not change here either. Assam follows the same path, except that Congress will be fighting with AGP.

So, let's see who turns the corner in these five states? Can the BJP strike inroads in these areas which are heavily dominated by the regional parties? I hope good sense prevails and the educated masses atleast vote in the elections. Things can really improve if there is a good number of people going to the poll booths to vote for their new leader!