THE elections for Tamilnadu Assembly are scheduled on May 16 along with Kerala. In Tamilnadu for the first time an alternative front has been formed against both DMK and AIADMK. This front consists of CPI(M), CPI, MDMDK (headed by Vaiko), VCK (a strong dalit party) which together had formed Peoples Welfare Front. Later on, DMDK of Vijaykanth and TMC of GK Vasan (son of Karuppiaih Moopanar and former central minister) also joined and a six party alliance emerged. This six party alliance has been giving many sleepless nights to both the dominant parties of the state. Brinda Karat made an intensive tour for election campaign. She started the campaign in Madurai and Dindigul for U Vasuki and N Pandi. She reminded the electorate of deep unity of people of the city irrespective of caste and religion and asked them not to allow disrupting this unity. She requested the electorate to elect the CPI(M) candidates here. WATER CRISIS AND CAUVERY DISPUTE Brinda Karat, then campaigned at Lalgudi of Trichy district where CPI(M) candidate Jayaseelan is contesting. Pointing out that many newspapers have highlighted the simplicity of the candidate who lives in a very small house of only 240 sq.ft and his undisputed closeness with the people she requested them to vote for Jayaseelan to bring alternate politics in the state. From there, she proceeded to Thiruvaiyaru constituency where the candidate is Jeevakumar of CPI(M). She reminded the people that Jeevakumar is son of Com N Venkatachalam who was killed by landlords and also he has written a book and many articles on Cauvery river dispute. He is the best person to represent this constituency from where the delta region of Cauvery River begins. The next and last meeting was at Gantharvakottai from where CPI(M) candidate Chinnadurai is contesting. This is a constituency where 40 percent of electorate are dalit people. Very acute water crisis also prevails here. Brinda said that of 1200 registered water manufacturing units half of them ie, 600 are in Tamilnadu having a turnover of Rs 1000 cr. While people are starved of water the state governments of both DMK and AIADMK have allowed the private sector to loot the water. On May 6, she campaigned in Nagappattinam. She also visited Kilvenmani where memorial is being built for 44 landless labourers who were burnt to death by goons of landlords in 1968. She paid her respectful homage there. She also addressed a press conference in the evening at Nagappattinam. HUGE GATHERINGS IN DELTA REGION The first meeting was at Thirukkuvalai which falls under the constituency of Kilvelur from where the sitting MLA of CPI(M) Nagai Mali is contesting again. Incidentally this is the birth place of DMK leader M Karunanidhi. This was the biggest one of all the meetings, Brinda addressed in this schedule. One third of the audience were women. Listing the good work done by Mali especially building lot of bridges and opening new PDS outlets, she requested the people to re-elect him again to build an alternative political platform to both the DMK and the AIADMK. The next meeting was scheduled at Thiruvaroor where CPI candidate Masilamani is contesting. The point to be noted is that DMK president M Karunanidhi is also contesting from here. In a very well attended meeting, Brinda ridiculed MK Stalin, the son of Karunanidhi, who signed the Methane Gas agreement when he was deputy CM. The people of delta region fear that the Cauvery Delta would become a desert if Methane gas is explored. There are innumerable protests against this agreement. The Left parties, MDMK and other parties of this alliance are in the forefront in this struggle. Because of intense protest, this agreement was not operationalised. Later on Stalin said that he signed the agreement without reading it properly. Brinda ridiculed this anti-people act of Stalin and also Karunanidhi who did not disown the action of his son. She also highlighted the danger of Shale gas exploration which would be very detrimental to the delta region. She emphatically put forward that it was a gross failure of DMK and AIADMK governments in not solving the water dispute of Cauvery. The last meeting was at Nannilam constituency where CPI(M) candidate Sundaramurthy is contesting. Hundreds of people attended the meeting. She told the gathering the good qualities of CPI(M) candidate who led the huge struggle of siege of collectorate in 2013 urging the government to declare delta region as drought affected and give appropriate compensation. After three days of tremendous struggle, the government was compelled to declare as drought affected area and also was compelled to give more than Rs 400 cr for relief measures. She further reminded the people of Com Navalan’s sacrifice who was killed by liquor mafia and the best way to remember him is to elect CPI(M) candidate. ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED Brinda Karat attended nine meetings and travelled nearly 1400 kms including her journey from and to Chennai. In addition to the constituency linked issues she highlighted many important political developments. She exposed how DMK and AIADMK have betrayed the great ideals of popular social reform leader Periyar. She brought out the undeniable truth that these parties had drifted from Periyar’s progressive ideology. In the 125th birth anniversary year of Babasaheb Ambedkar these two parties not only failed to commemorate this great occasion properly but also they had insulted his legacy. She questioned the deafening silence of DMK and AIADMK when young couples were butchered for having inter-caste marriages. Tamilnadu has experienced 81 dishonour killings in the recent past. The dominant parties never uttered single word against this. Brinda ridiculed Modi government who promised “nalla kaalam” (achhe din) but only ensured “ketta kaalam” (bhure din). She questioned why the DMK and AIADMK were silent without criticising Modi. It was because of “Uzal’’ (corruption). While DMK leaders were marching towards Tihaar jail for 2G spectrum, the AIADMK leader was in Bengaluru jail for disproportionate assets case. She reminded the people that either they were in jail or out on bail! She asked the women how they would continue to have their traditional food Idly when the price of urad dal was more than Rs 200 and Sambaar when tur dal was sold at more than Rs 180 per kg. She also with telling effect sent the message that in TN there was no water but for every 10 feet there was liquor shop which had destroyed the fabric of the state. Brinda compared the six party alliance with rainbow. As the rainbow appears in the sky after dark clouds, the political rainbow of six party alliance would appear after dark political clouds of DMK and AIADMK. She exhorted the women to keep “vilakkumaaru” (broom) ready to clean the dirty corrupt practice of politicians who would visit in the night to purchase their votes.