Chennai: An ‘outsider vs local’ tussle is brewing across several constituencies across the state as political parties have fielded candidates who are neither natives nor residents of constituencies they are contesting.While political opponents are questioning the credentials of such candidates ‘paradropped’ in the constituencies, the issue has also triggered internal dissent in some parties. The disgruntled functionaries in Congress have expressed their dissent in a couple of constituencies. In Madurai’s Melur segment, a heated argument broke out between Congress functionaries when the candidate P Viswanathan came to a party meeting. Local functionaries alleged that the party has ignored aspirants from the segment and has fielded Viswanathan from Kancheepuram. In Mayiladuthurai, Congressmen had stuck posters opposing the candidature of Y M Jamal Mohammed Younus who hails from Thanjavur.DMK heavyweight V Senthil Balaji is among the prominent candidates facing a sustained “local versus outsider” campaign against him. A native of Karur, he has been fielded in Coimbatore South, in the backyard of AIADMK strongman S P Velumani. “DMK has fielded him, presuming they can get votes using money power. But Coimbatore people will never accept him,” said BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan. Actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay is also confronting a similar narrative in Tiruchy East, with both the DMK and AIADMK questioning his local connect. DMK sitting MLA Inigo Irudhayaraj, who faced a similar criticism in 2021, has now turned the same argument against Vijay, questioning whether the actor would be accessible to address local grievances.Puthiya Neethi Katchi’s candidate for Madurai central Sundar C is also facing a similar situation on the electoral front. “I belong to the whole state. So, I belong to Madurai also,” said Sundar, responding to the criticism. There are also some ‘outsiders’ who have been accepted by local functionaries. AIADMK’s Lalgudi candidate Leema Rose Martin is one such candidate. “All that matters is whether a canddiate would succeed or not. She is sure to win. So why would we oppose,” asked an AIADMK functionary.
