On May 1^st, 2021 :

Having watched and read analysts of all types informed, half-baked, and unbaked, I think I should write this as I cannot postpone this any longer because tomorrow this might become irrelevant.

This is about pumping done by all the people mentioned above for AMMK leader Dinakaran  and it was even said that he might cut into AIADMK votes and thus be an additional factor for DMK’s “inevitable” win.

Times are such that plain truths need to be reiterated. Dinakaran promises one job for each household. There are 1, 96,16,093   house holds/Fair price shop cards in TN. If someone believes,   he is going to achieve that he needs to be initiated in common sense. His other promises like essential goods delivery at the door step ( no one has asked for it since that is the only kind of shopping for the poor ) and subsidy for gas cylinders are all impractical. Therefore, anyone voting for him on the basis of promises is less likely.

What then is his strength? Sasikala has distanced herself from him. To begin with, she never associated herself. She has not uttered the word, AMMK.” Even when she came out of the jail in the so-called 23 hour road show, her car for some distance carried the AIADMK flag , and not the AMMK flag. This was hardly commented upon.

Dinakaran has the support of   Mukkulathors and hence his support would be a deciding factor, it was said. Even a reputed magazine like Thuglak believed in this myth. Sasikala is a greater Mukkulathor icon than Dinakaran. When she has not supported him, one does not expect other Mukkulathors to support him.

But then he polled a good enough percentage in 34 Assembly segment s in 2019 Parliamentary polls. Much water has   flown since then. Sasikala’s card was closely held then and he could convince voters that she was backing him. Besides, his aides, Vetrivel ( since deceased), Pugazhendhi, Thanga Tamizhselvan  are no longer with  him. Even during the 2019 Lok sabha polls, his decline could be seen by those who kept their eyes open.  He secured 89,013 votes in the RK Nagar by poll. But, his party candidate could get only 10,551 votes in the same RK Nagar assembly segment in the recently concluded LS polls.

Between  the parliamentary poll results   and October 24, when the Vikravandi and Nanguneri ( with AMMK not contesting )     results were announced, nearly 70 per cent of his state and district functionaries switched their loyalties to the ruling AIADMK or the DMK.  Grass root workers know better.

Even in the midst of 2021 assembly election, one of his candidates deserted him and joined AIADMK.  His candidates complained  that he did not fund them enough to meet even legitimate expenses.   Buying votes as he did in R. K. Nagar and   cannot be  replicated  in a large number of constituencies.

Compare this to the hype by media and print and electronic on his importance. He is likely to lose in his constituency, his party will score a zero and his percentage my not exceed 3. .

 S>Pushpavanam  just a day before counting of votes;