CHENNAI: The deeply rooted
dynasty politics
has become a new normal in Tamil Nadu where scions continue to influence and shape the
political landscape
.
For instance, take Chennai South constituency, which is poised for a fierce battle among children of three prominent political figures. BJP candidate and former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is daughter of Congress veteran Kumari Ananthan, while sitting
DMK
MP Thamizhachi is former minister V Thangapandian’s daughter, and AIADMK candidate J Jayavardhan is former minister D Jayakumar’s son.
Tamilisai asserts that herpolitics is also unlike her opponents—DMK chief M K Stalin, MDMK leader Durai Vaiko and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss—who have taken over reins of their respective parties from their fathers. “Dynasty politics is like someone travelling on the shoulder of their parents. I don’t do that. I’ve laid a path of my own and I’ll succeed,” she said.
The other dynasts that DMK has fielded are Kani-mozhi Karunanidhi, Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanidhi Veeraswamy and D M Kathir Anand. The party has also fielded Arun Nehru, son of minister K N Nehru, in Perambalur constituency.
There are some dynasts in AIADMK, too AIADMK’s IT wing secretary Singai G Ramachandran, son of former MLA Singai Govindarasu, and D Lokesh Tamilselvan, son of former assembly speaker P Dhanapal, candidates from Coimbatore and Nilgiris (SC) seats, respectively, are among notable contestants.
Vijay Prabhakar, DMDK nominee for Virudhunagar seat, rejected the notion of dynasty politics, expressing his commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of his father, late DMDK chief Vijayakant.
English (US) ·