Tamil Nadu elections: War of words, wit and symbolism among key leaders

For more than a month, TN witnessed a multi-pronged campaign war. Here are the warriors. Now, you choose the winners

M K Stalin

King and general rolled into one, CM M K Stalin looks more like an attacker than a defender. For the DMK chief, the battle is as much about disarming the Delhi BJP brigade as decimating their local support troops of AIADMK.




He calls delimitation a conspiracy and accuses Centre of trying to stifle TN’s growth, impose Hindi and divide the people on communal lines. Even when he attacks his challenger Edappadi K Palaniswami, it is more for the AIADMK general secretary’s association with BJP than his own politics.



Edappadi K Palaniswami

After firing salvos at every possible fissure on the DMK fort, AIADMK leader EPS tells people: “Can anyone other than Stalin’s family reach the top position in DMK? I came from down there, from one among you, through hard work.” If rusticity is his armour, his ammunition against the Stalin govt include deteriorating law and order, drug menace and corruption.

Called a slave of BJP, EPS resorted to personal attacks on Stalin, M Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi. If there was one message that EPS sought to send out during the election campaign, it was this: don’t underestimate me.



C Joseph Vijay

A first timer in fray, Vijay comes across more as a performer than a politician. Punchlines, pauses, a warm smile and suddenly an angry attack – everything he did seems to be for the smartphone screen. The result was there on full display – thousands of youngsters thronging his roadshows.

If DMK ignored him in its attacks, Vijay spared AIADMK and BJP, and plotted a parallel attack at Stalin’s fort, while calling it a battle between DMK and TVK. His war cry had less of policies and more of symbolism. When he invoked memories of an old king called MGR, it touched some raw nerves in the DMK battalion.



Udhayanidhi Stalin

This prince employs wit in war. People crowd around his campaign van, listen to his casual talk, respond to his questions and laugh. While his father Stalin targets Modi, Udhayanidhi makes EPS the butt of his jokes. ‘I won’t show that photograph anymore,” he tells a roadside gathering in Madurai. “EPS is creating a big fuss.’’ And he shows the image again -that of EPS falling at the feet of V K Sasikala.

And then, another one: “Who is No 1 in AIADMK,’’ he asks the crowd. When they say EPS, he says no. “It’s Modi,’’ he says. Like his father, Udhayanidhi makes it a point not to utter the name Vijay. That’s a battle for the future.



Seeman

When a politician’s tongue is his greatest weapon, restraint is the first casualty. NTK chief Seeman tells voters something no politician dares to: “If you like freebies, don’t vote for my candidates.”

If DMK and AIADMK leaders choose to ignore Vijay in their speeches, Seeman more than compensates for it. “You give your money to watch his films. Now, when he decides not to act, you give your country to him, is it?’’ he says at a campaign. With Tamil identity at the core of his messages, Seeman delivers them unfiltered and emotionally charged. He leaves you wondering if he is protesting or seeking votes.

Whatever the election result, you can expect Seeman to continue speaking in the same provocative manner. And also to crisscross Tamil Nadu ploughing a lonely furrow




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