As campaign peaks, quality of public discourse plummets

Erode: As campaigning peaks in Erode East, the quality of the political discourse has hit the rock bottom. Tamil Nadu is not new to hard-hitting, often repulsive, political remarks.After oratorical hitmen like the late ‘Theepori’ Arumugam and Vetrikondan, known for their explicit speeches, vacated the stage, there has been a lull when it came to vulgarity in public speeches. While Edappadi K Palaniswami got busy fighting rivals within his party, chief minister M K Stalin had cautioned his partymen not to cross the line. The Erode East bypoll, however, has brought back vitriolic personal attacks, below the belt remarks, gender stereotyping born out of patriarchal mindset and muscle flexing statements.EPS set the tone for these speeches with his “are you man with a moustache?” jibe at Stalin. Stalin’s son and state sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin responded with the question, “Why is EPS asking for men with moustaches? Is he going to give them a shave?”In a retort to Udhayanidhi’s campaign, where he was seen carrying a brick again, targeting the Centre for its alleged failure to construct AIIMS facility in Madurai, BJP state chief K Annamalai launched a personal attack calling him ‘sengal thirudan’ (brick thief).NTK chief Seeman joined the chorus of political incorrectness, saying he would not only break the pen monument proposed for former chief minister M Karunanidhi, but also the heads of those who question him for opposing the monument. This again invited caustic personal attacks from DMK men.Political parties started off their election campaign speeches in Erode East 20 days ago on a positive note – as to how they are more deserving than their rivals. But soon, the speeches turned into vitriolic personal attacks. The flavour of the season, though, was the ‘man with moustache’ remark, with every other leader using the term to challenge their rivals. Psychiatrists say the patriarchal gender stereotyping is a socio-cultural phenomenon born out of the notion that only men are associated with valor, which is not right. “Though we as a society have progressed in various aspects, some of the regressive residue remains,” says Dr Poorna Chandrika, professor, Institute of Mental Health, Chennai. AIADMK former minister Vaigaichelvan said Udhayanidhi should respect the age and seniority of EPS and should refrain from ‘denigrating’ him. DMK spokesman M Saravanan said it was EPS who started it all, and the DMK had no choice but to retort.
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