How a fractured political landscape led to a unique election in Tamil Nadu history
In short: In 1989, Tamil Nadu held a landmark legislative assembly election defined by a split in the ruling party, the introduction of unusual animal symbols, and a rare, accurate prediction by statewide opinion polls. This contest served as a high-stakes national precursor, testing the popularity of major political leaders.
Following the death of Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran in December 1987, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) fractured into two competing factions led by V. N. Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa. The political instability reached a climax when Speaker P. H. Pandian disqualified 33 MLAs from the Jayalalithaa group, allowing Janaki to secure a controversial vote of confidence. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi subsequently dismissed the government in January 1988, leading to a year of President's rule before the 1989 elections were held on 21 January.
The election was notable for the Election Commission's decision to freeze the AIADMK's traditional 'two leaves' symbol. Instead, the commission assigned the 'cock' to the Jayalalithaa faction and 'two doves' to the Janaki faction. This move proved controversial, as reports of cruelty toward the animals during campaigning prompted Election Commissioner T. N. Seshan to eventually ban the use of live animals as party symbols. The fragmentation of the AIADMK and the Indian National Congress's decision to contest alone allowed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by M. Karunanidhi, to secure a comfortable majority.
The election was also a milestone for political forecasting. The Tamil weekly Tharasu successfully predicted a DMK victory and projected that Jayalalithaa would become the Leader of the Opposition. While the survey correctly anticipated that the Janaki faction would struggle, it missed P. H. Pandian's victory in the Cheranmadevi constituency. The election's national significance was underscored by extensive campaigning from figures like Rajiv Gandhi, V. P. Singh, and Jyoti Basu, who viewed the outcome as a bellwether for the 1989 General election. Ultimately, the DMK's tenure was brief, as the government was dismissed in January 1991.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election
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