TN bypoll: Despite low-key campaign, DMK eyes a landslide in Erode

Despite a low-key campaign, which is very unusual, the ruling DMK is eyeing for a landslide in the 5 February bypoll for the Erode East Assembly constituency.

- MC RAJAN

With the principal opposition AIADMK as well as the BJP and their allies sitting out, the onus of taking on the DMK juggernaut is on the Tamil nationalist Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of filmmaker-turned neta Seeman, which has carried out a spirited campaign.

Though there are 46 candidates in the fray, the fight is primarily between VC Chandirakumar of the DMK and MK Seethalakshmi of the NTK.

This time around, the 'dead rubber' contest would show how many votes the NTK could garner since it is waging a lonely battle with a virulent anti-Dravidian narrative by debunking Dravidian icon 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy.

Unlike in the past, it was not a high decibel election which marks byelections in the state since the 90s.