Two Leaves in 234, a show of strength

In fact, the AIADMK founder MGR, who had the maximum popularity among the people, did not dare to contest in all the 234 seats. Even other veterans like CN Annadurai, M Karunanidhi or GK Moopanar, who had good support from the masses, did not test this option.

So, what could be the reason behind the ‘Two Leaves in 234’ move of Jayalalithaa? AIADMK insiders say that it shows the confidence of the party supremo as it has recorded landslide win in 2011 Assembly and 2014 LS polls. They say the charisma still remains. 

But critics and analysts have a different version. “This time, it is going to be a real test for individual strength of every party. That is why there are some strange alliances and the birth of another front, beyond the traditional combine of the Dravidian majors, with a different mix.

Everyone wants to prove or ascertain the exact vote share,” says T Mathiazhagan, an ex-senior functionary of a Dravidian party.

Murali, a national party member from Madurai, says that all these years a majority of the small parties that faced the polls in alliance with the AIADMK later claimed that it was their party that gave the victory margin to the Dravidian major. So, to dispel this claim and prove that it was the small parties that were benefitted by the AIADMK and not vice versa, she had insisted on the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. “This will also prove that party votes alone are enough for the AIADMK to coast to victory in all the seats.” 

Tirunavukkarasu, a CPM functionary and political analyst, sees Jayalalithaa’s move as an attempt to demonstrate that AIADMK is the top most party in the state. And, the votes cast in favour of the party or the alliance is for ‘Two Leaves’ and for her. 

However, the experiment is like wielding a doubleedged weapon. “If she loses this election and the vote share plunges, then it will put the party in a disadvantageous situation. On the contrary, if the AIADMK wins it is full marks for Jayalalithaa. A fractured verdict will also clearly expose where the Dravidian major is weak. Thus the ‘all 234’ formula is an exercise in introspection as well as a show of strength attempted by the AIADMK supremo,” he said.