As if waiting for the wheel-chair bound old man to utter the magical word ‘Udanpirappe’ (brother/sister), rapturous applause rents the air accompanied by thunderous whistles from ardent supporters. For years, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi has been using this ‘mantra’ to connect with his cadres and followers.
For the DMK, he is still a crowd puller and at present is into the second week of the Lok Sabha poll campaign that includes road shows as well. Accompanied by his second wife Rajathi, the mother of Rajya Sabha MP, Kanimozhi, he has so far covered most of the constituencies.
Karunanidhi may be 90 years old, yet there is none to replace him in the political domain. Famous for his captivating oratory, he has even drawn adversaries to his rallies in the past for the sheer pleasure of listening to his speeches—rhetoric laced with satire. But he is not a loner out to reap a rich harvest in the electoral game as other veterans, too, have plunged into the poll fray. Joining hands with him in the crusade for votes are DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan (92) and K Veeramani (81) of the rationalist Dravidar Kazhagam.
The Left parties, on the other hand, are not far behind in showcasing their old war horses in the campaign. Former freedom fighters, Marxist stalwart N Sankaraiah (93) and CPI veteran R Nallakannu (90) are holding the fort for the Left. The CPI has its state secretary D Pandian (82) as well.
These battle-scarred soldiers are back in the game to garner votes. Age does not deter them nor does their frail health. Even in their sunset years, these dhoti-clad netas have not shunned the call of duty and are traversing the length and breadth of the state to campaign for their respective parties.
Strenuous election campaigning by road in the scorching Indian summer is no child’s play. But for these men it has been an integral part of their long and chequered political career. Braving the heat, they have grown up addressing meetings on the roadside as well as rallies in cities and towns.
Though Karunanidhi’s speech may at times lack the fire and the exuberance of the past, he is effectively able to connect with the cadres, who throng to hear him. Despite being confined to a wheel-chair, the nonagenarian speaks for nearly an hour at each rally and his tongue has not lost its sharpness. Shouldering the electioneering responsibility equally is DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan. Like his boss, he too hails from Tiruvarur district in the Cauvery delta. Though named Ramaiah, he changed his name to Anbazhagan after plunging into the Dravidian movement like many others. Known for his lucid oratory laced with well-timed jokes, the Dravidian veteran is not just two years older to the DMK patriarch but a senior to him in the party too. Also known as ‘Perasiriyar’ (professor), thanks to a brief teaching stint at a college, he commands the respect of his opponents as well. And unlike Karunanidhi, 92-year-old Anbazhagan continues to stand on the dais while addressing the crowds.
With the Left ploughing a lonely furrow, the CPI(M) has fielded the 93-year-old Sankaraiah to campaign for the party in Chennai. Similarly, the CPI flaunts Nallakannu and Pandian as star campaigners. An acclaimed speaker, Pandian, a former English lecturer is hugely popular for his knowledge and oratory skills. Refreshingly different from the Dravidian rhetoric, sarcasm is a hallmark of this son of the soil from Usilampatti.
A Spartan by nature, the widely-respected Nallakannu is among the last in the line of leaders who had participated in the freedom struggle and a father figure of the Communist movement in the country. The nonagenarian is currently on an election tour, canvassing votes for the Left. Though not a gifted orator, his presence is enough to galvanise the party workers. Though devoid of rhetorical embellishments, he is focused and speaks in the language of the masses. On the other hand, Pandian is adept at word play and comes out with catchy punch lines and is therefore the darling of the language media. But he happens to be the dwindling species of the tribe in the Left ranks.