RK Nagar busts many a myth on bypolls

Also, the bypoll has proved that symbols and parties may not always matter or rather personalities could upstage parties howsoever powerful they are. Going by losers’ own admission, who cried foul over the winner and runner up splashing cash, the poll outcome has also shown that money could be one of the considerations, but it was not the only consideration that influences voter’s decision. Even a few plain-speaking DMK seniors admitted on condition of anonymity that if money was the only factor, then Madhusudhanan should have won and Dinakaran should have finished second.

That said, one aspect has stood out as usual even in this by-election. Dravidian parties still hold over 90 per cent of the votes, if Dinakaran, who also invokes the legacy of rationalist Periyar and Annadurai, were beheld as a splinter group of the AIADMK.

“Technically, Dinakaran might be identified as an independent, but it should not be forgotten that he is also a part of Dravidian legacy, precisely, the AIADMK.

Whether he has the ideological conviction or not his Dravidian link could not be discounted. He also made it a point to garland Anna and Periyar memorials after confirming his victory,” remarked a leader of one of the breakaway factions of Dravidar Kazhagam, which had briefly expressed solidarity with Sasikala.

It was not uncommon to see Periyar followers celebrate Dinakaran’s victory and adopt him as another Dravidian leader, so much so that a few atheist netizens had even criticized aspiring politicians from Kollywood for being oblivious during an election season. “Where did twitter warrior Kamal Haasan vanish? Vishal break your silence? When will you wage war superstar?” were some of the jibes posted online.

The abysmally poor performance of challengers of the Dravidian majors like the BJP and Naam Tamizhar Katchi must have made aspiring leaders rethink about taking the plunge.