The caste factor could play an important role in the outcome of the results for the February 21 by-election to the Andipatti Assembly in Tamil Nadu, from where AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa is contesting the polls. The electioneering has gathered momentum with former chief minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi undertaking a whirlwind campaign in this 'Thevar' bastion.
In a clever attempt to wean away Jayalalithaa's supporters, Karunanidhi asked the voters why there should be another chief minister when there was already one (O Paneerselvam), who belongs to the Thevar community.
The DMK has been carrying out a whisper campaign all along in this constituency that every vote cast in favour of Jayalalithaa was a vote against a Thevar chief minister. The AIADMK supremo is contesting the bypoll to become the chief minister for the third time. Jayalalithaa had all along been maintaining that she was above caste and religion although the dominant Thevar community had already adopted her as ''Thevar magal'' (daughter of the Thevars).
''By electing DMK's Vaigai Sekar, also a Thevar, the constituency will have a voice in the assembly,'' Karunanidhi said.
Union forest minister and DMK leader T R Baalu, himself a Thevar, had told the electorate a few days earlier that a Thevar would be unseated as the chief minister if Jayalalithaa won.
Bureau Report