Interestingly while Stalin himself admitted to handing out money -- although the spin he gave was that he was distributing money tocelebrate the birth of a baby -- union shipping minister T R Baalu has dismissed the video evidence of the distribution of money as "frivolous and concocted." For Karunanidhi, it must be galling that both his sons, Stalin and Azhagiri, are for the first time showing a united front, but even so winning a bypoll has never been such an uphill task. Karunanidhi might be out there supported again, since the reunion, by grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran, Stalin might be tirelessly campaigning while Azhagiri might be as tirelessly orchestrating the poll, but all bets are off on the DMK winning the poll.
Azhagiri, after the initial reluctance to helm the campaign, has gone on record that he wants to win so he can make good his promise that he would pull off ahat-trick (he is credited with winning Madurai central and Madurai west). But despite his formidable reputation as a force to reckon with in south Tamil Nadu, there are some things missing. For instance, the campaign for Madurai west had seen two "K's" from the first family, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and Kanthi Azhagiri campaigning. This time, one more 'K', that is Kayalvizhi, the daughter of Azhagiri, whose profile is slowly going up in party circles, was expected to be out there particularly considering that the DMK has fielded a woman, Latha Adhiyaman. But all the woman are missing. What is more, Kanti's pictures which are plastered all over Madurai, be it a wedding, christening or a birthday, is also absent from wall posters and hoardings in thevillages that are part of this constituency. All of this signals to the voter that Azhagiri may have been induced to take charge of the campaign, but while he is physically present, is his spirit absent?
Chennai's Date with culture
Speaking of Kanimozhi, since the Marans were brought back into the family fold, she seems to be edged out of the political picture. Which is strange because Dayanidhi Maran, unlike his late father Murasoli Maran, was never credited with being politically savvy(it's only granduncle Karunanidhi's backing that gave him an aura and standing within theDMK). But Kanimozhi's reputation as a cultural czarina is once again being burnished with the third edition of the Chennai Sangamam expected to kick off this week. The annual festival that began two years ago to give a new lease of life to forgotten folk forms has included one more facet of culture this year-- art and painting. The fest also disproved old myths -- that Carnatic music is only for mamas and mamis crowding the hallowed portals of sabhas. The attendance at public parks for artists such as Aruna Sairam and Sudha Raghunathan proved that connoisseurs are not snobs when it comes to venues at which concerts are performed. The popularity of the Sanghamam also demolished another myth-- that with the advent of TV, folk art forms were on their last legs. Given a platform, folk arts can still draw in crowds. Says Kanimozhi-- "It is amazing to see people crowding to watch tolpavai koothu." This year 17 venues across the city will bring artforms -- and not to mention traditional cuisines -- to this metropolis. Says Father Caspar, who along with Kanimozhi, is the driving force of the sanghamam, "This year, we haveintroduced rural games such as uriyadi, vazhukku maram and mal yuddham."
Pravasis Descend