ERODE: The electoral battleground in the Kongu constituency of Gobichettipalayam has undergone a drastic shift this election season. For decades, Sengottaiyan commanded a considerable support from kongu vellalar gounders, a community to which he belonged. They form a sizeable vote bank in Gobichettipalayam, enabling his repeated wins when he was in AIADMK. That Edappadi K Palaniswami too belonged to the community and gounders have been traditionally backing AIADMK since its founder M G Ramachandran’s era also contributed to the success. Sengottaiyan’s decision to align with TVK has altered the dynamics to an extent in Gobichettipalayam, signalling that he may not enjoy the same support. “Even some of our relatives say they will vote for AIADMK,” said a former AIADMK functionary who switched over to TVK with Sengottaiyan. On the other hand, Sengottaiyan may get new voters to back him, thanks to actor Vijay’s appeal. Sengottaiyan has been drawing crowds during campaigns, many of them from TVK.
Yet, the electoral fight as TVK candidate is fraught with risk: while his personal influence remains intact to a large extent, TVK lacks the cadre machinery that AIADMK and DMK have built over decades. “TVK struggles to put in place a strong booth-level organisation set up,” said a supporter of Sengottaiyan.DMK, sensing opportunity in the fractured opposition, has fielded N Nallasivam. Though he is from neighbouring Bhavanisagar seat, has been working in the constituency for the past few months. “Stalin has announced several welfare programmes for farmers. We hope voters will support us, Nalalsivam said.For AIADMK, Gobichettipalayam is about reclaiming lost pride. While branding Sengottaiyan as ‘betrayer of two leaves symbol’, EPS has fielded his loyalist V B Prabhu. But Prabhu, a former students’ wing functionary and union secretary, lacks the stature to take on Sengottaiyan, say some AIADMK men. Nallasivam and Prabhu too hail from gounder community, but personal connect with voters might decide the outcome, say poll analysts. “Sengottaiyan’s has the potential to deliver TVK its first major breakthrough in western Tamil Nadu, but only if his personal following translates into votes under a new symbol,” said Poomozhi, a political analyst.(With inputs from Ram Sundaram)
