The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are expected to be held in April this year. Senior journalist and Director of The Hindu group, N Ram, has predicted a comfortable victory for the ruling DMK-led alliance.
Interestingly, Ram referred to findings from an exit poll conducted by the India Today group, which showed the DMK enjoying a 12-percentage-point lead over its rivals.
Commenting on the numbers, Ram said, “I don’t think such a big lead is realistic, but even if we take half of it — around 6 percent — it would still be a very comfortable win for the DMK.”
Ram recalled that during last year’s Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, the BJP was optimistic following the padayatra led by its then state president K Annamalai, who contested from Coimbatore.
However, Ram had categorically stated at the time that Annamalai had no chance of winning, a prediction that proved accurate when Annamalai finished third.
The upcoming Assembly elections will also see a new entrant in the form of superstar Vijay, who has floated his own political outfit, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).
Vijay has not announced any alliance so far and is expected to contest the elections on his own. Political analysts estimate that TVK could secure 10–15 percent vote share.
On this, Ram said, “Vijay has a strong fan base, but he lacks an organisational cadre on the ground. He is surrounded by people who are themselves inexperienced in politics. Yes, he may get 10–15 percent of the vote, but I don’t think he can replicate the performances of leaders like MGR or NTR.”
Ruling out the possibility of a hung Assembly, Ram said he clearly foresees a DMK victory.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin share one similarity.
“Modi has a higher approval rating than the BJP, and Stalin is viewed more favourably than his party, the DMK. This works to the advantage of their respective parties,” he said.