Low voter turnout – Whose gaining?

Amid a campaign that the local body elections will be marred by violence and booth capturing… much to the surprise of many it turned out to be a low-key affair…The biggest of all surprises is Chennai Corporation, that saw a voter turnout of just 48%. The past elections for Chennai Corporation has always seen brisk voting along with incidents of mass violence…but this time things were totally different and surprising not only for journalists but also for all the political parties. Including Chennai there was a lukewarm response for the political parties call.

Whiel the Tamil Nadu assembly elections which concluded in April 2011 saw a record turn out of 75 to 80%...and quite on expected lines the results proved the people’s anger against the then ruling DMK. Well, for other political parties it may be yet another election…but for Jayalilathaa it’s a litmus test for her 5 month rule in Tamil Nadu.  Sources say Jayalilathaa is quite disappointed with the numbers that have come out at the end of the day in the name of polling percentage…

Chief Minister has asked the State Intelligence to prepare a detailed report on why there was a low voter turnout and what are the reasons? …

Ever since elections were announced in the State…it was a low key affair…neither the poll campaign took off well for all the parties…nor the people were ready to listen to yet another set of fresh poll campaign’s and promises…

The State Intelligence that conducted a pre-poll survey…gave its report to the Chief Minister, that the campaign by the AIADMK members did not go too well with the people…that is why Jayalilathaa decided to hit the campaign trail its final stages…Whispers in Tamil Nadu had already reported on how Jaya’s camp was jittery ahead of the local body polls….

http://www.whispersintamilnadu.com/2011/10/is-aiadmk-camp-jittery.html

Despite desperate measures by the AIADMK the elections turned out to be a low key affair…does this mean that the people are not so enthused about Amma’s five month rule?? Political analysts say there could be more than one reason…

The bad publicity attracted by Jayalilathaa’s government in the obstinate handling of the Samacheer Kalvi issue by keeping the students without any syllabus or books for more than a month till the apex court’s verdict…this has highly irritated the parents as well as teachers.  

The brutal police firing and killing of 6 persons in Paramakudi and Jaya’s subsequent stand justifying the police action by calling it a caste clash has also not gone down well with the people of southern districts…particularly Dalits across the State.

The way Jayalilathaa treated her allies has also made people to lose interest in the local polls.  During the Assembly elections when Jaya released the candidates list even as talks were going on with alliance partners…it created a flutter in Tamil Nadu politics…but then she said its was a human error and the list was released without her consent. But this time too Jayalilathaa adopted the same strategy to dump her allies…making it clear that she is still arrogant. So people came to a foregone conclusion that Jayalalitha ditched her allies only with game plan to win the elections using government machinery…and many of them saw the polling day as holiday and were busy in Diwali shopping. Was going it alone in the elections considered as Jaya’s biggest mistake??

Arresting DMK’s key personalities under land grab act is slowly taking the form of witch hunt.  Jayalalitha filing disproportionate assets case against former DMK Ministers while she herself is facing an asset case in Bengaluru also remains as a thorn in the flesh.

While all these factors are loaded against Amma, the DMK is reeling under the onslaught of a barrage of cases against its leaders.  While the DMK Supremo is not able campaign actively, it was left out to its second level leaders to take the responsibility.   Most of the second level leaders are facing police action one way or other.   In fact, K.N.Nehru, who was out of prison on the last day of his campaigning chose to be in Chennai rather than use the last day for campaigning in the Trichy bye-poll.

Further DMK is yet wriggle out of the 2G Scam as two of its prominent leaders cool their heels in Tihar with no hope of coming out of jail in the near future…and Just days ahead of the polling Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi Maran were raided by the CBI in the 2G case….

But the major factor in favour of the DMK is its strong vote bank, which is intact in spite of the huge anti-incumbency wave.  

The low turn out of voters in Tamil Nadu only goes to prove that the battle is equally poised and not in favour of anyone.  With just one more phase to go, it appears that it’s not a cake walk for Amma…as she is still expecting...

Whispers in TN was the first to expose Subramania Swamy's game plan

Whispers In Tamil Nadu was the first to put it out Dr.Subramaniam Swamy’s  Prime Ministerial Ambitions” in public domain… he had a clear game plan and how he is successful fishing in troubled waters to become a strong contender for the Post of Prime Minister… The news just got confirmed…and it was confirmed by none other than Subramaniam Swamy himself on twitter

@Swamy39 Just returned from Kanpur. Very impressive meeting organised by VHP/RSS.Next Blr 19th, and Jammu on 23rd. Ranchi-Varanasi-Ballia 29-31.

Sources say the Kudunkulam Anti-Nuclear protest and the actively involvement of the church was discussed in the meeting and it was resolved that RSS will actively campaign against the involvement of Church in this anti-nuclear protest.

On one hand the Intelligence Bureau is making desperate attempts to create a rift between the organizers who are leading the protest…However, IB’s first attempt to distribute pamphlet claiming Anti-Nuclear activist Udaykumar who is leading the protest is a CIA agent turned futile. Sources in the IB department say the next attempt was to bring Bala Prajapathi Adigalar into the picture to so that they can create divisions among the protestors on communal lines…but that seems to have failed too…On the other Swamy is playing his own game...

It’s quite obvious that Dr. Subramaniam Swamy has the habit of fishing in troubled waters…Well as expected now he is here to give a communal twist to this people’s movement against nuclear power.

Swamy is in pursuit of his game plan hotly to reassure RSS that he is toeing the hardcore hindutuva line.  Even as the agitation of the people of Koodankulam, Thoothukudi District against the Nuclear Power Plant is widely covered by the media, there is no denying that the church is actively taking part in the agitation…but Subramaniam Swamy just gave it a new twist (Read an RSS twist)

In his letter addressed to Manmohan today Swamy says: “I demand an explanation from the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as to why his Secretary Mr. Pulok Chatterji, with the help of the Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, has entered into negotiations with the Catholic Church in Mumbai to help resolve the protests taking place against the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant. Does this mean that the Catholic Church is behind the agitation in which case it is highly objectionable and calls for action under IPC Sections 153A & B, 295A and 505(2). It also exposes that the PMO is under the clutches of the Catholic Church probably due to the extra-constitutional authority exercised by the now ailing Ms Sonia Gandhi who appears to regard Mr. Pulok Chatterji with the PMO as her personal civil domestic servant judging by his role when she was hospitalized in New York. During the period of her hospitalization, Mr. Pulok Chatterji was frequently seen arranging for pizza and other snacks for her large Italian entourage numbering about fifty and living in plush apartments in New York close to the hospital.

The Prime Minister, if he is committed to secular, that is, not prejudiced against the majority Hindu community and biased in favour of the Christians because they are patrons of Ms. Sonia Gandhi, should put an end to this condemnable negotiation on the viability of the Kudankulam Plant. The Church has no business to decide whatsoever on whether a new reactor set up after Government approval is to be opposed or supported. Let the Catholic Church restrict itself to religious matters otherwise persons like myself would be free to investigate the practices of the Church such as in appointment of Bishops on direction from the Vatican, and receipt of funds from abroad.”

It is true that Swamy has every right to raise an issue about the participation of Catholic Church in an agitation against N-plant.  But writing such a letter immediately after attending the RSS’s Sarsangchalak raises eyebrows whether Swamy is fanning Hindu sentiments to get cozier with the RSS apparently with an eye on BJP party president post.

Dr.Swamy’s attack on Sonia Gandhi is also seen as a move to take RSS into confidence that he will toe a ‘hard core hindutva’ line upon RSS’s instructions.

Swamy’s first gameplan was to attack the Muslim community and make RSS happy.  Now Swamy has attacked Christians and the church and entered part 2 of his game plan.   How far Dr.Swamy will succeed in his Coup d'état  remains to be seen.

Subramaniam Swamy and his Prime Ministerial ambitions!

Even as the ruling Congress party is not sure about who will be their party’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 General elections…and the principle opposition BJP, is witnessing one of its worst internal bickering in the politics of “Kaun Banega Prime Minister”…as there are too many aspirants in the party for the top Job. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, UP Chief Minister Mayawati are also trying different routes to reach 7RCR…!!!

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, who is known as the “One Man Demolisher” in Indian politics…Now he is known as the “Conscience of the nation” after exposing the great 2G spectrum robbery….Whispers doing rounds is that Dr.Swamy is also hotly pursuing his dream of becoming the Prime Minister…and to achieve his dream, Dr.Swamy is now actively fishing in troubled waters…the Bharathiya Janata Party to try his luck to reach the hot seat.

Among the hats Swamy wore were Professor of Economics, Member of IIT Board, Member of Parliament, Member of Planning Commission, Cabinet Minister for Commerce and Law, author and of course the founder President of the Janata Party and now he wants to try for the top job as well.

Swamy is known for his dramatic allegations without any basis or evidence.   In March 2001 Swamy alleged that Rahul Gandhi and his mother’s family; the Mainos are agents of the Russian Intelligence agency KGB.

Dr.Swamy was in the forefront in the onslaught against the Jayalalitha government in 1991 accusing Jayalilathaa of being corrupt and ensured that she is prosecuted. It was based on Swamy’s complaint the ongoing Disproportionate assets case was slapped on Jayalilathaa which is haunting her even today.

  

When the BJP formed the government in 1998 for a brief period Dr.Swamy’s name was doing the rounds for the post of Finance Minister.  But Swamy had to eat humble pie after the RSS stiffly opposed his nomination.  But now life has come a full circle for this one man demolisher.

  

Sources tell Whispers in Tamil Nadu that the now Swamy has the full backing of RSS and a decision to merge Swamy’s Janata party with the BJP is on the cards.  But, the infighting among the top leaders in the BJP is likely to ruin Swamy from turning his dreams into reality. 

Insiders say Swamy’s recent inflammatory article stating Hindus are the ancestors of all Muslims and that Muslims should accept Hindus’ superiority and live in India as a secondary citizens… is nothing but a calculated move by Dr.Swamy to show that he is ready to toe the hardcore Hindutva line and also to resurface into the good books of RSS once again.

However, the lackadaisical decision of the Delhi police to register an FIR after a lapse of 3 months has given more fodder to Swamy’s cannon as he dares them to arrest. Swamy has not moved the court for anticipatory bail.   Sources say Swamy is very keen on getting arrested in this case, as it would raise his image and stakes in RSS that has a larger say in the affairs of the BJP.

It’s an open secret that Swamy has the ability to spell danger for both friends and foes. However over the years he has cleverly carved a niche to remain the Indian political arena. The BJP, too wants to share a pie in the Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption wave has made corruption as its core agenda.  Dr.Swamy’s induction in the party may yield a few votes.    

It is true that Swamy has become the darling of the educated upper class in India after the 2G Scam broke. But insiders say both the RSS and the BJP leadership is in the process of assessing weather Swamy’s induction into the party will be an asset or a liability...well one thing that needs to be noted is Subramaniam Swamy's Twitter status message... It says "I give as good as I get" ...!!!

The Media Report!!!

Though electronic media has underwent a humongous growth at the national level, the growth of electronic media in Tamil Nadu is rather timid.   While the national media is backed by corporate giants electronic media in Tamil Nadu still remains as the mouthpiece of Kazhagam's and Katchi's.   The cable revolution introduced Sun TV in Tamil Nadu with the strong backing of DMK party and its leader Karunanidhi.   The growth of Sun TV almost killed Doordarshan.   Sun TV saw a phenomenal growth in the early nineties acting almost as the only opposition party in the State whenever the AIADMK is in power.

Jayalalitha who understood the potential of the cable phenomenon started JJ TV to counter the onslaught of Maran's owned Sun TV.    The subsequent entry by liquor baron Vijay Mallaya with the channel ‘GEC’ failed to take off due to the shrewd political maneuvers by the KD brothers.

Now the entry of ‘Pudhiya Thalaimurai’ TV of the SRM group has raised hopes that a non-political news channel is in the offing.  But alas !  SRM Group's new  channel has turned out to be a monotonous news channel without any focus neither political nor social.   Sources in the media say Srinivasan who was in Aaj Tak/Headlines Today had quit the national media with the belief that at last there is a non-political channel with editorial liberty in Tamil Nadu.  But grapevine has it...that the SRM management has made the channel to do a volte face in the matter of Koodankulam nuclear plant issue.    The channel which was vociferous in its coverage and support to the agitators has done a somersault and is found actively canvassing FOR the nuclear plant which has agitated the anti-nuclear activists in the State.

Pudhiya Thalaimurai is in search of good journalists with a better and different news perspective which they find it hard and when it comes to perspective alone the chances of their desperate search becomes bleak . Though the channel is offering far better salaries than others in the industry, good talent is hard to find say sources.  Due to these difficulties the channel appears to be struggling to focus both politically and socially...which is considered to be the need of the hour by many.

Whether the Pudhiya Thalaimurai channel is running with focus or not, it has rattled the administration of Sun TV big time.   Sun TV has a history of paying a pittance to its employees and treat them like bonded labrours and . Media sources say the staff of Sun TV used to be abused in filthy language by the management.   Barring a few, Sun TV reporters would never be shown on camera as the management felt that no reporter should get popular which would result in demanding higher pay. Nervous about the patters of news in Pudhiya Thalaimurai sources say Kalanithi Maran had pulled up Raja, news editor of Sun TV and instructed to pull up the socks and make drastic changes.    Within a couple of days of  Pudhiya Thalaimurai going on air, Sun News saw dramatic changes and that too overnight.  

Makkal TV which claims as a neutral channel...as things changed it became yet another mouth piece of Pattali Makkal Katchi. The channel is now witnessing a cash crunch following the expiry of tenure of Rajya Sabha MP seat of ‘Doctor Chinna Ayya’ Anbumani.  Anbumani who was milking the cash cow viz. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was not able to pump in funds as he use to be...now things have changed and now running Makkal TV has become a prestige issue for Dr.Ramadoss.   Sowmya Anbumani who was managing the affairs of the channel seems to have lost interest say sources.  Due to the cash crunch many employees of Makkal TV were in the process of jumping out of the ship and joining Pudhiya Thalaimurai. Whispers in Journalistic circles is that PMK founder and Makkal TV "GOD FATHER" Dr.Ramadoss had personally spoken to Pachamuthu, of the SRM group not to hire anyone from makkal TV.

NDTV HINDU : The only English channel, a joint venture between NDTV and The Hindu that had raised hopes when it was launched the State, is becoming a history. At the time of its launch Senior Journalist Jeniffer Arul, was placed in charge.  Subsequently she was sidelined and the mantle was handed over to Sanjay Pinto . Sources say Sanjay Pinto's attempts to make this channel a dynamic one did not take off and it became  stale without any sting in the news.   In fact, insiders from the channel add that Sanjay Pinto himself had encouraged many of the channel’s staff members to quit the channel.    Under the administration of Sanjay Pinto, NDTV HINDU suffered heavy losses and The Hindu management, which is already reeling under infighting, decided to call it quits.

Dr.Jawahar Palaniappan who is on a war path with his former partner Varadharajan over ownership issues,  had shown some interest in taking over the channel but the efforts were not fruitful.

Finally Daily Thanthi Group has taken over the management of NDTV HINDU and has decided to run the channel with 60-80 % Tamil content and 20-30% English content. This process has just begun...one will have to wait and see the channel that promised "Nothing but Truth" will have at least have this tag under the new ownership...Since it has been taken over by Daily Thanthi group...the whispers doing rounds among journalistic circles is that one cannot expect anything more...but many are happy that they can see Daily Thanthi paper visually instead of reading it.

The dearth of quality news channels in Tamil can be attributed to the iron hold of the KD brothers in the cable industry...

Unlike the national scenario where the English channels like (which have their own AGENDA), Times Now, CNN IBN, NDTV, Headlines Today and News X  who compete (and always go overboard) in the world of BREAKING NEWS, channels in Tamil Nadu compete with each other to give one sided stories to suit their needs and to keep Kazhagam's and Katchi's in good humour. 

Looks like the expectation of an unbiased local news channel in the state will rather be a dream forever.   

Amma’s dilemma !

Whether the 66 crore disproportionate assets case is giving nightmares to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha or not, it is giving sleepless nights to the DVAC officials and bureaucrats in the top echelons.

DVAC sources say DVAC Director K.P.Maghendran and IG AMS.Gunaseelan are on their toes on the eve of appearance of Chief Minister Jayalalitha in the Bengaluru court. 

DVAC officials are in a tight spot owing to the fact that the assets case against Jayalalitha is their own baby and they cannot openly go against it.  At the same time they are in a quagmire of working under the same person who is accused of possessing disproportionate assets.  Sources in DVAC add that all the officials are on tenterhooks and the IG AMS.Gunaseelan is continuously camping at Bengaluru making arrangements for the arrival of Amma.

Readers familiar with whispers could see how wrong legal advise had landed Jayalalitha in such a tight spot.   

On 20^th October Jayalalitha would make her appearance before Mallikarjunaiah who is the Special Judge conducting the trial against Jayalalitha in the assets case. Jayalalitha would be facing questions from the Judge under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code.  313 of the Cr.P.C. empowers the court to question the accused after the witnesses for the prosecution are examined and before defence witnesses are examined.  Following this procedure examination of defence witnesses would commence followed by re-examination of the Investigating Officer.

N.Nallama Naidu, who was the investigating officer in this case was humiliated by advocates of Jayalalitha when he was examined in the Special Court in Chennai, before the trial was transferred to Bengaluru on the orders of the apex court.   Naidu was virtually in tears when the advocates of Jayalalitha humiliated him with a barrage of questions affecting his integrity.

However after the change of guard at Fort. St. George in 2006, Nallama Naidu was given a status of  ‘Officer on Special Duty’ in the DVAC with a hefty pay package.  So there is very little likelihood that Nallama Naidu would turn hostile.  

After this procedure prosecution witnesses already examined could be recalled and examined based on the evidence adduced by the defence side.    To prolong the trial, Jayalalitha may choose to recall most of the witnesses citing one reason or other.   But it is unlikely that the court appointed Special Public Prosecutor B.V.Acharya would allow this to happen.  The present government had for its part, rubbed Acharya on the wrong side when G.Sambandham, present Investigating Officer had written a letter directly to the Special Judge seeking orders for further investigation.  Acharya took it as a personal insult and recorded his objections before the Special Judge.   So recalling prosecution witnesses to procrastinate the trial may not yield desired results.

Any appeal in the High Court or Supreme Court against the orders of Special Judge rejecting the plea for recalling prosecution witnesses is unlikely to yield any results.  The apex court while dismissing Jayalaliha’s appeal for exemption from personal appearance for questioning under Section 313 Cr.P.C. had already made an observation that such a plea is only to buy time.

DVAC officers are well aware that an angry Amma may not only ruin their careers but also mar their future.   Caught in a tight spot, amma is also keeping her fingers crossed.

The Agri (ugly) war

The tiff between the ruling AIADMK and the DMK is getting hotter by the day over the issue of handing over government land to Horticulture Krishnamurthy...whispers doing the rounds is that Chief Minister Jayalilathaa’s close aide Sasikala is behind the government’s move to hand over the government land near Gemini fly over to ‘Horticulture Krishnamurthy’. 

The land measuring 13 acres and 4 grounds was under litigation since 1980’s. In 1989 the then DMK government issued an order taking back the land in the possession of Krishnamurthy.   Subsequently Krishnamurthy challenged the order in the High Court and a single judge ruled in his favor.  Government filed an appeal and during the pendency of the litigation in 2001 after the ADMK came back to power, the government withdrew the case. After change of government the matter went to Supreme Court and it was ordered in favor of the government.  Karuna was quick erect ‘Semmozhi Poonga’ in that place to commemorate the world classical Tamil conference.

After the present government assumed power, the land has again been handed over to Horticulture Krishnamurthy.

Sources add that ‘chinnamma’ is behind this move of the government in entrusting government property to a private Person.  As war of words intensifies between Jayalilathaa and Karunanidhi over Anna Arivaliyam land row and other land grabbing charges slapped against the DMK top leaders...now the DMK is all set to hit back at the AIADMK government to expose this murky land deal.

DMK high command has asked its advocates to file RTI petitions in this regard...Sources say the DMK is also trying to pass it on all information relating to this land deal to Janata Party President Subramaniam Swamy...as he is very angry with Sasikala...the reason is quite simple he was not included in the AIADMK alliance during the 2011 assembly elections.  However, the grape vine has it...this will be the beginning of fresh troubles for the AIADMK.   

Political pundits are surprised why the ADMK which was voted back to power on a huge wave is supplying fodder to DMK cannons.