02-10-2005, 11:00 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Jaya mulls early polls on astro advice + new image </b>
Subodh Ghildiyal/ New Delhi
Is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa planning early Assembly elections? Indications are that she may advance the polls by six months. The reason: Astrological advice coupled with the need for timely encashment of image-building.
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Ms Jayalalithaa may call for an early contest by October 2005 even though State elections are scheduled for April-May 2006. Sources said the religious Chief Minister, who makes no bones about invoking the supernatural before beginning any new venture, has reportedly been told that the electoral contest is "worth a try" till October. An AIADMK leader said, "Advancing the polls by six or seven months is no longer frowned at. The astrological advice is in tune with the acceptable limit."
The "astrologically good time" also coincides with an "optimum time-frame" to encash image-building, precipitating jitters within the rainbow alliance led by the DMK, and most importantly the tsunami relief work which the AIADMK feels is a "positive". At the same time, the AIADMK is hoping the DMK alliance will not hold and will split to its advantage.
The fact that Tamil Nadu has not lately returned a Government to power makes it more difficult for the AIADMK which was in May 2004 swept out of the Lok Sabha. In this grim scenario, Ms Jayalalithaa has fallen back on astrology and a timely encashment of whatever she thinks has been a positive for her.
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The leader is banking on the image-resurrection exercise she launched after her drubbing. <b>Repeal of the Hindutva agenda was followed by the arrest of the Kanchi seer which the AIADMK feels may cost it four per cent Brahmins but still not benefit the DMK.</b> Otherwise, it feels that the tsunami relief work has endeared the voters to the Government and the killing of Veerappan has helped it gain the confidence of the middle-class and other groups.
Most importantly, the AIADMK is hoping that the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance will crack under the heat of seat-sharing. Its hopes soared when the CPI recently announced its intention to contest a two-digit figure in Tamil Nadu. Relations between the MDMK and the DMK are well-known and Vaiko's personal statements on every issue -- from tsunami to Cauvery river award -- is being seen as a prelude to a future proclamation of independence. Ramadoss' PMK appears to be pitching for a hung Assembly with the party emerging as "indispensable" in Government formation. Congress is another partner for DMK to contend with. The ticklish issue may come up for internal discussion when the DMK executive council meets on February 11.
The AIADMK hopes that the DMK cannot be as generous in the Assembly polls as in the Lok Sabha when it contested only 15 seats and gave 10 to the Congress, five to the PMK, four to the MDMK, two each to the CPI and CPM and one to the IUML. In the 234-seat house, 15 Lok Sabha seats would translate to only 90 Assembly seats. "As seen in Bihar, seat-sharing between allies is not as smooth for the Assembly as in the Lok Sabha," a leader said.
The AIADMK concedes that it has its back to the wall but feels whatever
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Subodh Ghildiyal/ New Delhi
Is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa planning early Assembly elections? Indications are that she may advance the polls by six months. The reason: Astrological advice coupled with the need for timely encashment of image-building.
Â
Ms Jayalalithaa may call for an early contest by October 2005 even though State elections are scheduled for April-May 2006. Sources said the religious Chief Minister, who makes no bones about invoking the supernatural before beginning any new venture, has reportedly been told that the electoral contest is "worth a try" till October. An AIADMK leader said, "Advancing the polls by six or seven months is no longer frowned at. The astrological advice is in tune with the acceptable limit."
The "astrologically good time" also coincides with an "optimum time-frame" to encash image-building, precipitating jitters within the rainbow alliance led by the DMK, and most importantly the tsunami relief work which the AIADMK feels is a "positive". At the same time, the AIADMK is hoping the DMK alliance will not hold and will split to its advantage.
The fact that Tamil Nadu has not lately returned a Government to power makes it more difficult for the AIADMK which was in May 2004 swept out of the Lok Sabha. In this grim scenario, Ms Jayalalithaa has fallen back on astrology and a timely encashment of whatever she thinks has been a positive for her.
Â
The leader is banking on the image-resurrection exercise she launched after her drubbing. <b>Repeal of the Hindutva agenda was followed by the arrest of the Kanchi seer which the AIADMK feels may cost it four per cent Brahmins but still not benefit the DMK.</b> Otherwise, it feels that the tsunami relief work has endeared the voters to the Government and the killing of Veerappan has helped it gain the confidence of the middle-class and other groups.
Most importantly, the AIADMK is hoping that the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance will crack under the heat of seat-sharing. Its hopes soared when the CPI recently announced its intention to contest a two-digit figure in Tamil Nadu. Relations between the MDMK and the DMK are well-known and Vaiko's personal statements on every issue -- from tsunami to Cauvery river award -- is being seen as a prelude to a future proclamation of independence. Ramadoss' PMK appears to be pitching for a hung Assembly with the party emerging as "indispensable" in Government formation. Congress is another partner for DMK to contend with. The ticklish issue may come up for internal discussion when the DMK executive council meets on February 11.
The AIADMK hopes that the DMK cannot be as generous in the Assembly polls as in the Lok Sabha when it contested only 15 seats and gave 10 to the Congress, five to the PMK, four to the MDMK, two each to the CPI and CPM and one to the IUML. In the 234-seat house, 15 Lok Sabha seats would translate to only 90 Assembly seats. "As seen in Bihar, seat-sharing between allies is not as smooth for the Assembly as in the Lok Sabha," a leader said.
The AIADMK concedes that it has its back to the wall but feels whatever
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