'Despite 2G scam, DMK may win TN election'

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is an extremely unpopular person because of the 2G spectrum scam but he may win the assembly election this time, feels Subramanian Swamy, one of the petitioners in 2G case in the Supreme Court

Swami and lawyer Prashant Bhushan's legal fight had led to the arrest of DMK leader and former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja and the filing of chargesheet aginst many corporate leaders.

The issue of corruption will be tested when the results of Tamil Nadu assembly elections would be declared on May 13.

It is believed that if at all the DMK, the ruling party that has been battered by the 2G scam and the arrest of their Dalit leader Raja, wins the election then the people's movement against corruption will receive a setback.

In private, many Congressmen are saying that in the interiors of India people are not bothered as much about corruption as much as price rise.

Already, a state-wide survey by Headlines Today television channel has suggested that there is a 2 per cent swing in favour of the ruling alliance led by the DMK while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has a 7 per cent swing in their favour.

That despite serious charges of massive corruption, the DMK has managed a 2 per cent swing in its favour is puzzling to many, but not to Swami.

He says, "In spite of the media, which does not look beyond New Delhi and pass comments on Tamil Nadu, the DMK may win the election. The media projected J Jayalalithaa as an alternative. She had, unfortunately, nothing to do with 2G."

Swami has apparently, again, fallen out with Jayalalithaa.

Giving the logic behind his election prediction, Swami said, 'Jayalalithaa herself has an image of being corrupt and she is on bail in a case, which I had filed against her. She started competing with Karunanidhi on freebies and her aide Shashikala started taking undue interest in distributing tickets to candidates. As a result, there was no difference between Karunanidhi and her."

Swami, who is fighting court cases against the United Progressive Alliance government, is not happy with the opposition National Democratic Alliance either.

He says, "The NDA has same problem. The Reddy brothers of Karnataka are connected to some of the top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. I am very doubtful if the NDA or the BJP can replace the UPA."