Does Chennai Know Lok Sabha Elections, Bypolls Are Happening?

We asked people of Chennai if they know why these elections are happening, why it is so important for Tamil Nadu.

(Photo: Smitha TK/ The Quint)

Video Editor: Vikram Venkateswaran
Producer: Smitha TK

“Everything was fine when they (Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi) were alive. After they passed away, things aren’t good.”

Valliamma, flower seller, Chennai

The country is now quite busy with the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to decide who will be the next prime minister. But for Tamil Nadu, the story is a little more than that. Along with the parliamentary elections, by-polls to 18 of the 22 Assembly constituencies is also happening.

Polling to 12 seats was conducted on 18 April and four other seats are going for voting on 19 May.

But do the people of Tamil Nadu know why these elections are happening? Do they know why they are so important for the state?

The Quint went to T Nagar, the shopping hub of Chennai, to find out if people really know.

Why Is 2019 Polls so Important for Tamil Nadu?

Here is why:

1. This is the first elections in Tamil Nadu without the stalwarts Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. It is a litmus test to find out if the present AIADMK and DMK can prove their worth.

2. This is the first time the ruling party at the Centre, BJP, has signed a strong pre-poll alliance in the state, in an attempt to make inroads to Tamil Nadu which has been hostile to the party in the last few years. Congress, in alliance with DMK, has always had its presence in Tamil Nadu. But this is the first time the party is contesting in more number of seats than in previous elections.

3. This bypolls will decide if Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami can continue to govern the state.

Breaking down the numbers, in a 234-member assembly, the chief minister claims to enjoy the support of 114 MLAs. Some of these MLAs have deserted the government and the numbers are likely to change. These seats had fallen vacant because of the disqualification of rebel AIADMK MLAs who extended their support to TTV Dhinakaran.

But even if we consider 114, it means the chief minister falls short of four seats to claim majority. On the other hand we have Congress and DMK with 96 seats, and they need 22 seats to form majority.

4. Tamil Nadu is used to just having two Dravidian parties. This time, with Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam making a debut, it will be interesting to see how many seats the party will win. That would show if people are open to alternatives to Dravidian parties.

Does Chennai Know?

When we spoke to the people of Chennai, we found many of them had no idea about the ongoing by-polls. What was surprising is there were many who had taken a day off to cast their vote, but didn’t know whether they were choosing the prime minister or the chief minister.

When asked if they think the present day Dravidian parties are competent enough, some said DMK President MK Stalin has an upper hand as he must have gained knowledge from his father, the veteran leader Karunanidhi. AIADMK, on the other hand, does not have a direct heir who has taken over the mantle of leadership from Jayalalithaa.

“How will a house be without the mother and father?”

Gajalakshmi, vendor, Chennai.

Some others said it is time to say goodbye to these two options and look for an alternative – Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam is a promising party, many opined.

Gajalakshmi, a vendor who offered to buy me a glass of milk after watching me walk around the streets with a selfie stick all evening had an important message to give:

“You stand for elections and people will obviously vote for you. But you should work for the people and question things that are wrong. But then, if you do that, ‘they’ will end you.”