Pollachi abuse case to be key poll issue

But this may change for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as the sordid sex scandal issue that hogged the national limelight is threatening to snowball into a campaign issue for the Dravidian parties locking horns in this agrarian belt.

The DMK seems to have already made up its mind to pitch the AIADMK government’s failure to probe into the alleged political connection in the scandal as its main poll plank. This is evident with party leader M K Stalin reportedly instructing his cadre to keep up the momentum of the ongoing protests.

The DMK functionaries are confident that the people will reflect their anger against the government at the ballot. “It is an inhumane act perpetrated by some men at the behest of politicians in the ruling party. Though the issue should not be linked to electoral politics, the people are waiting to teach a lesson to the AIADMK,” said DMK legislator N Karthik.

Political commentators expressed a similar point, stating that the scandal’s impact would be felt even in other parts of the State.

“The infamous episode will certainly have a strong impact in constituencies in the western region, including Coimbatore, Pollachi and Erode. But that does not mean people in other districts are not concerned,” said Ramu Manivannan, Head, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Madras, adding that voters would surely ask questions such as ‘who were the accused’ and ‘what is their political connection’.

However, the AIADMK, which enjoys a strong voter base in Pollachi, believes that the party’s winning streak at the hustings cannot be stopped by a single issue.

“The DMK may have politicised the issue on purpose, but it would not have any bearing on the polls. Even if they take up the issue as a major poll plank, the AIADMK high command led by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami would come up with strategies to tackle the challenge,” said the sitting AIADMK MP, C Mahendran.

Pointing out that the Opposition parties were trying to rake up the issue as they were unable to find fault with the State government on other grounds, the MP said the protests were instigated. 

“The public will only consider the schemes and achievements of a candidate while voting in the election,” he said.  

However, keeping in line with the public mood, Mahendran said that the four men, accused in the case, should be awarded capital punishment. “I am completely satisfied with the ongoing investigations. The government has been keenly observing the case, and will let the law to take its own course,” he said.