Possible alliances for 2009: Erstwhile UPA partners, the Left and MDMK, have walked out. DMK, Congress and PMK are likely to stay together despite differences. The Left is trying to woo AIADMK, but Jayalalithaa is not inclined. She would, instead, prefer Congress, which is not willing at this point.

Issues: Every party in the state is espousing the cause of Tamil civilians caught in the crossfire between the Lankan army and LTTE. AIADMK and now the Left are crying “constitutional breakdown” following the lawyers versus police clash at the Madras HC.

Recent sops: Farmers to get interest-free crop loans from cooperatives. Pulses, grams, peas, dhal exempt from purchase tax. Tax on I-Pod, MP3 and MP4 reduced to 4% from 12.5%.  Close to 40 lakh households have been provided 14-inch colour TVs. The government is paying 3 months’ salary as interim arrears subject to implementation of the sixth pay commission recommendations. The burden on exchequer, Rs4,247 crore.

Analysis: The elections will be a great test of skills for second-rung DMK leaders, especially Karunanidhi’s heir apparent MK Stalin. With the almost-85 Karunanidhi not keeping well, finance minister K Anbazhagan, power minister Arcot N Veeraswamy, law minister Duraimurugan and Stalin will have to lead the DMK-Congress campaign. Karunanidhi is an erudite politician with a sharp mind who can hold audiences spellbound. Stalin is not new to electoral politics, but he doesn’t have the charisma of his father. The AIADMK, on the other hand, will solely depend on the charisma of Jayalalithaa. She is expected to do better than last time when she drew a blank.

Advantage: Jayalalithaa on account of anti-incumbency.

Ram Raj/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication