AIADMK, TTV camp see DMK as sole rival in local body polls

The party leaders say the civic elections for over 12,500 rural local bodies and over 650 urban bodies involve tedious planning and campaigning at the grassroot level. Besides, the local popularity of candidates and organisational network hold the key for the outcome. Although elections to rural bodies are not fought along party lines, party functionaries contest them under various symbols, they pointed out.

Since Kamal Haasan has announced that he would launch the party on February 21, parties are keenly watching if his fans would enter the fray in the civic polls. However, they do not consider his party as a main contender. Actor Rajinikanth had already made it clear that he would not contest the local body elections.

Leaders of the ruling party feel that with Dinakaran himself without an organisation at present, the local body polls would be a direct fight between the AIADMK and DMK only.

AIADMK deputy secretary of minorities wing and party spokesperson JCD Prabhakar said, “his party has started the preliminary work for civic polls in all the pockets throughout the state. With a well-oiled machinery our party is always battle-ready. We do not consider Kamal Haasan as a challenge and as usual the main rival for us will be the DMK.”  

Similarly, the Dinakaran camp too does not think that the two actors could make a dent in the prospects of his supporters in the civic body election. “Although, we cannot campaign for our candidates as a disqualification case is pending in the court, Dinakaran can easily set up a parallel network of experienced and locally popular functionaries throughout the state once a party name is registered and symbol is obtained,” a supporter said.