Chennai: The poor vote tally secured by the Communist parties in recent by-elections has triggered unease among smaller political parties in the alliance, with local body polls in mind.
The two Communist parties, which support the ruling T.Ve.K. government from outside, contested independently in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls. Party leaders had publicly maintained that their organisational network and trade union backing would help them secure at least 3% of the vote in both constituencies.
However, the results fell well short of those expectations. In Madurantakam, the CPI(M) polled 1,986 votes (1.07%), while in Dharapuram, the CPI secured 1,157 votes (0.64%), failing to cross 2,000 votes in either seat.
The outcome has reportedly shocked smaller parties within the T.Ve.K. alliance, including the MDMK, VCK and the Muslim League. With local body elections approaching, these parties are concerned that alliance leaders may cite the Communist vote share to argue that smaller partners have limited vote banks, potentially affecting their bargaining power.
An office-bearer of the CPI said some voters who might have backed the Communists chose the ruling party instead to ensure the continuation of the T.Ve.K. government. He added that Communist campaigning can influence society, and while it may not translate into votes when contesting alone, it can contribute to victories when part of an alliance—something, he said, the alliance leadership understands.
