JUST SPAMMING | Will this be a lackluster by-election?

Take for example, mention the word Thirumangalam by-election and a plethora of vignettes are likely to tumble out of memory. Similarly, going further down memory lane to 1973, one can reach the recess where the details of the historic Dindigul by-election will be engraved. Dindigul by-election was the first electoral outing of the then nascent AIADMK, under the leadership of M G Ramachandran (MGR). Legend has it that MGR’s nominee for the elections, Maya Thevar, was the one who negotiated with the Election Commission then for the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol that went on to become the endearing emblem of the party, finding its pride of place even in later day movies of MGR. Also there is a story of how Communist leader N Sankaraiah had withdrawn from the electoral race to enable MGR’s nominee win.

Well, Erode East 2.0 will in no way be remembered like so many such by-elections until and otherwise NTK founder Seeman decides to do something about it. To put it otherwise Erode East 2.0 will not be even as patch on Erode East 1.0, which for the first time gave rise to the allegation from the opposition camp that voters were being herded in enclosures to ensure that they did not meet the rival candidates or their supporters. Of course, for Erode East 2.0 there seemed to be no such plans of herding voters, who enjoyed life in the enclosures sitting, relaxing, watching movies and even stealing a siesta if they wished besides helping themselves to delicious food without having to listen to the harangue of opposition party campaigners.

So, what does this by-election have in store for the common man? Or to those outside the constituency. Maybe people living there have the privilege of watching the jamboree unfolding before them with campaigners from outside buzzing around in vehicles catching up with voters, speaking from atop vehicles, dining in the local restaurants and crowding the place and dispelling its quietude. But for outsiders dependent on the telecast of the visuals from the spot by news outlets and social media channels unless it was substantial drama or at least ear-splitting unpalatable cacophony, nothing would be taken note by the telecasters.

It is on that aspect that Erode East 2.0 could be a hit. For Seeman can provide drama, both visual and auditory. His gestures, particularly the expression of anger and the delectable outbursts of delight through loud laughter, and also his vocal attacks on others and questions that evoke no answers never fail to entertain people. But the question is how much would those vignettes be relayed to people living outside the constituency through mass media. Even the print media rarely captures such moments to enable people to enjoy them. So, there might not be much to look forward to in terms of drama, too, until Seeman decides to hit below the belt.

Of course, Seeman’s delightful tales of adventure in the Sri Lankan battlefront of the past and his flaunting of apparent kinship with leaders of the past – ‘my great grandfather, or grandaunt or something like that’ - for no apparent reason might entertain the people of Erode East to some extent but what could really be awesome would be his diatribes and imaginary allegations. Who could be targets of his attacks in the by-election arena is to be watched but his landing there to start the campaign in a day or two is for sure. His candidate M K Seethalaksmi, holding PG and MPhil degrees and having experience in teaching, has vouched for it already.

Seethalakshmi, in the electoral battle, will be meeting a local candidate of the DMK, V C Chandrakumar, who had already won the seat in the past as a candidate of the DMDK when ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth was around. That means that Chandrakumar is known to people and is now contesting as a candidate of the ruling party, whose ally, the Congress, has been holding the seat. But such facts might be irrelevant to a leader like Seeman when he launches an onslaught against him or his party. And that alone could provide memorable takeaways from the campaign trail there. So let’s look forward to that for entertainment.

Beyond that, as we know, Seeman is now on another heady trip: Abusing Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E V Ramasamy. Whether he will continue doing it in Erode East is to be seen. If he does it, that might provide more takeaways for election watchers because Erode is Periyar’s hometown and the Congress candidates, who had won the seat earlier, are his great grandnephew and grandnephew, whose family now supports the DMK candidate.