Vikravandi byelection in Tamil Nadu: AIADMK-BJP clash could tip scales in DMK's favour

The verbal duel between AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and BJP state president K Annamalai may well benefit the ruling DMK in the Vikravandi byelection.
After AIADMK decided to boycott the bypoll, the decision was expected to give an edge to PMK, contesting on the BJP front. The logic was that AIADMK voters would not want their arch-rival DMK to win the election.In fact, speculation was rife that AIADMK stayed away from the election to make way for PMK, hoping that the vanniyar party would break away from BJP alliance and return to AIADMK ahead of 2026 assembly election.
But Annamalai's continued diatribe against EPS appears to have ended the possibilities of AIADMK votes going to BJP front. Though EPS has chosen not to criticise PMK, his hard-hitting comments aimed at Annamalai and BJP are seen by AIADMK cadre as a signal not to back PMK candidate C Anbumani.
That leaves AIADMK voters with three choices, to vote for DMK, to vote for NTK or abstain from voting. DMK men feel that in all three cases they are bound to gain because their key rival in the election PMK would not get the AIADMK votes, which might tilt the outcome.
Political observers point out that a clash between EPS and Annamalai does not automatically guarantee a diversion of AIADMK votes to DMK. Nevertheless, the polarisation of AIADMK votes in favour of PMK-BJP front would be largely curtailed, they say. This in turn was enough to ensure that DMK retains its edge in the by-poll.
Data from recent Lok Sabha polls too show that Vikravandi assembly segment has been in favour of DMK. DMK functionaries point out that their party got more votes than AIADMK and NDA candidates in Vikravandi assembly segment, which falls in Kallakurichi parliamentary constituency. "So, if votes of AIADMK and NDA do not combine, then it's a cakewalk for us," say DMK functionaries.
NTK chief coordinator Seeman, who has not allied with any party in the past, extended open support to AIADMK's anti-hooch protest in Chennai. This was seen as a bid to woo AIADMK voters in Vikravandi. Thanks to the effort, some AIADMK votes might go to Naam Tamilar Katchi. Neither does it mean there would be en masse transfer of AIADMK votes to NTK so as to ensure its victory.