CHENNAI: For the MDMK, this Assembly poll was no different as the party continued with its dismal show, winning only 0.8 per cent of the total votes polled. Though aggressive, Vaiko’s flip-flops, including his backtracking from the contest from Kovilpatti, proved costly not only for the party, but for the Third Front as well.
The fiery orator was the cynosure of all eyes when he pulled off a coup by bringing on board the DMDK, when both the DMK and the BJP were wooing Vijayakant. He also brought in G K Vasan and the TMC, making the Third Front a viable proposition.
But he surprised everyone by washing off Kovilpatti, claiming that DMK was bent upon inciting caste violence. The highest votes polled by the party, incidentally was around 28,500, in Kovilpatti. His decision, taken without consulting the allies, is seen as a setback to the fledgling coalition that he had stitched with great efforts.
Earlier, his casteist slur on M Karunanidhi had made his allies uncomfortable. Though he had apologised immediately, the damage was already done. Once again, volatility has proven to be the undoing of the leader, who is always carried away by emotions.