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TAMILNADU ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2016
Tamil Nadu (TN) Election 2016
The 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will go to polls in 2016
as the tenure of the current government ends on 22 May. The DMK (Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam) and the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam) – the current ruling party in the state – are old rivals who
have monopolised the contest for gaining majority in the assembly after
every five years.
BJP, despite its drubbing in Bihar elections, is throwing all its weight
to make a breakthrough in this southern state. The party has been vocal
about its plan of creating a 'social creation' and a 'binding force' by
bringing together diverse caste groups whose demands have not been met
by the DMK and AIADMK governments.
During the last assembly elections in 2011, the state had witnessed 78 %
voting. While the AIADMK won 150 seats, its rival, DMK was reduced to a
non-issue with just 23 seats. The CPI and INC won 10 and five seats
respectively. According to political experts, Jayalalitha might find
herself on back foot following the complete failure of the state
machinery to tackle the crisis that emerged because of Chennai floods.
The chief minister's brand image, as media suggest, could “take a severe
beating”.
Some optimism has been displayed by the members of PMK (Pattali Makkal
Katchi) who expect the party to throw surprise as a third alternative
for the people of Tamil Nadu who don't want to align either with the DMK
or the AIADMK.
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What Do the Opinion Polls Say?
Elections to the 234 constituencies of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly
will be conducted in May, 2016. If history is anything to go by, the
assembly elections will be a battle between the two local heavyweights,
AIADMK and DMK. Other smaller parties like DMDK and PMK may grow in
importance in the final stages of the elections as both the DMK and
AIADMK fight it out to cross the majority mark. However, much seems to
depend on the undecided voter this time. It is this two or three per
cent of votes that will be key to the final outcome of the 2016 assembly
elections.
The AIADMK had an unarguable upper hand until November and December 2015
when the heavy rains and floods exposed its government's inefficiency.
But the opposition DMK, which was busy resolving conflict within its own
party, could hardly benefit from this situation. According to few
opinion polls, the AIADMK has still got a slight edge over the DMK with
BJP emerging as a strong third contender.
Parties and Alliances
With Tamil Nadu going to elections in the summer of 2016, all major
political contenders I the fray have begun preparations. DMK, the main
opposition party, has announced that it will fight the elections
together with the Congress. After splitting over the Sri Lankan Tamils
issue a couple of years back, the two have come together once again for
the upcoming elections. Ruling party AIADMK has allied with smaller
regional parties and given up seven of the 234 seats for them to
contest. Vijaykanth's DMDK has forged alliance with the People's Welfare
Front (PWF).
About Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections
The state was renamed Tamil Nadu in August 1968 and the strength of its Legislative Assembly became 234.
The Indian National Congress (INC) was the prominent party in the early
years of independence. Justice Party headed by Periyar E V Ramasamy was
one of the earliest regional parties in the state. Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (DMK), founded in 1949 by C N Annadurai , himself a former
Justice Party member, came to power for the first time in 1967. The
other main political party of the state, the AIADMK, was founded in 1972
by Dr M G Ramachandran, on leaving the DMK. The All India Anna Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK) led by M G Ramachandran formed the first state
government in 1977. M G R remained in power as the CM for ten years
till his death in 1987. DMK, currently headed by M Karunanidhi came to
power in 1989. Since then each party has formed the government
alternately. Currently Jayaram Jayalalitha of the AIADMK is the Chief
Minister. M Karrunanidhi of the DMK has been the Chief Minister of the
state five times.
In General Election to the Lok Sabha in 2009 DMK in alliance with INC
and VKC won 27 out of 39 seats. DMK is part of the United Progressive
Alliance with INC. AIADMK contested the 2009 elections as part of a
Third Front with CPI and CPI (M).
Some of the prominent politicians of the state have been Shri G K
Moopanar, former AICC General Secretary, Shri K Kamaraj and J
Jayalalithaa former Chief Minister of the state.
Political Parties in Tamil Nadu
The main state and regional parties are:
- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)
- Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK)
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
- Dravidar Kazhagam or Dravida Kazhagam (DK)
- Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)
- Manithaneya Makkal Katchi
- Puthiya Tamilagam
- Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
The main national parties in the state are:
- Indian National congress (INC)
- Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)
- Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))
- Communist Party of India (CPI)
