Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CHENNAI2407
2006-10-25 08:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:  

RULING DMK PARTY WINS TAMIL NADU LOCAL POLLS

Tags:  PGOV IN 
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VZCZCXRO9325
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #2407 2980802
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250802Z OCT 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0222
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2041
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4884
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0623
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1263
UNCLAS CHENNAI 002407 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV IN
SUBJECT: RULING DMK PARTY WINS TAMIL NADU LOCAL POLLS

REF: Chennai 2359

UNCLAS CHENNAI 002407

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV IN
SUBJECT: RULING DMK PARTY WINS TAMIL NADU LOCAL POLLS

REF: Chennai 2359


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The ruling DMK party and its allies -- including
the Congress -- emerged clear winners in the October elections to
Tamil Nadu local bodies, but the victory was tainted by wide
allegations of violence by DMK henchmen, particularly in Chennai.
The DMK hopes the violence will soon be forgotten after coalition
party office holders take charge of the local administration and
begin to use the funds devolved to the local bodies. The very poor
showing by the BJP has exposed its lack of roots in Tamil Nadu. END
SUMMARY


2. (U) Results of the elections to Tamil Nadu local bodies (reftel),
which were announced on October 21, showed a major victory for the
ruling DMK party and its Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) which
includes the Congress. The DPA appears to have captured all six
Municipal Corporations (Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem
and Tirunelveli) and a majority of the Municipalities, Town
Panchayats, Panchayat Unions and District Panchayats. The precise
number of local bodies the parties will control will become clear
after the elected ward members meet later in October to elect their
respective Chairpersons.


3. (SBU) The DMK's significant margin of victory is clear in the
numbers announced by the State Election Commission. According to the
Commission, the DMK secured 238 Ward Members in the Corporations
(the opposition AIADMK won only 62),1249 in Municipalities (AIADMK:
777),2639 in Town Panchayats (AIADMK: 1643),2488 in Panchayat
Unions (AIADMK: 1417) and 312 in District Panchayats (AIADMK: 157).
The impressive performance of the DMK in an Assembly by-election at
Madurai on October 11 also confirmed the state electorate's mood.
While the Congress party fared well in the local bodies election in
alliance with the DMK and took the third position after the AIADMK,
the BJP made the poorest showing rendering itself almost
insignificant Tamil Nadu. "We are in tatters; our electoral
significance is less than zilch in Tamil Nadu," lamented a local BJP
leader Ms. Lalitha Kumaramangalam. In contrast, Tamil Nadu's newest
political party, the DMDK led by film actor Vijayakant, contested
alone and showed a promising start.


4. (SBU) Asked about reports of violence in the local polls, Chief
Secretary Tripathy told us on October 23 that they were media

SIPDIS
blowups. He conceded that there were instances of minor violence
"here and there," but he alleged they came in response to AIADMK
sponsored violence.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: The DMK-led DPA's victory in the polls has
consolidated the firm hold on power it gained in the Assembly polls
in May. The victory, however, lost much of its sheen due to the
poll-related violence in Chennai, as was evident in the DMK's
low-key victory celebrations. The DMK hopes that the violence would
be forgotten after the party takes charge of the local
administration funds and projects for the next five years.
Meanwhile, the very poor showing by the BJP -- far behind the
Congress and even the CPI(M) -- has exposed the party's lack of
roots in Tamil Nadu. The local bodies election was dominated by
local concerns. Larger issues, such as the conflict on Sri Lanka or
the policies of the central government, played no role. END
COMMENT.
HOPPER