The Fading Echoes of Street-Corner Politics in Chennai
In the heart of Chennai's Triplicane neighborhood, a yellow-painted, two-storey house on Pillayar Koil Street bears a plaque with the name Kavignar Tamildasan. Inside, the 72-year-old veteran campaigner for the DMK, dressed in a crisp white shirt and trousers, is meticulously preparing notes for an evening speech in Royapuram. With over five decades of experience, Tamildasan reflects on what he calls the waning golden era for party-affiliated speakers, as this peak election season unfolds without the traditional street-corner gatherings that once defined Indian politics.
Why Street-Corner Meetings Are Disappearing
A combination of factors is driving this shift. Tamildasan explains that he used to address 40 to 50 meetings during peak seasons, but now manages only two or three. Key reasons include overshooting poll expenditure, a noticeable lack of public interest, and the rising popularity of social media platforms. In the past, political candidates and leaders captivated crowds with their oratorical skills, employing wit, satire, theatrical flair, sharp punchlines, and long rhythmic sentences to engage voters directly.
Insights from Political Figures
Jawhar Ali, AIADMK's state minority wing joint secretary and a seasoned speaker, observes that crowds now gather primarily to see cinema stars and top leaders, prompting parties to pivot toward social media campaigns and television debates. N Ezhilan, DMK's MLA candidate for the Thousand Lights constituency, notes that campaign durations have shrunk from nearly two months to just three weeks. He highlights the logistical challenges of street-corner meetings, such as obtaining police permission and setting up stages, compared to the efficiency of door-to-door campaigning, which allows covering hundreds of houses and voters swiftly.
Cost-Effective Alternatives and Recorded Speeches
To curb expenses, some candidates are adopting innovative methods. Aadi Rajaram, AIADMK's Chepauk-Triplicane MLA candidate, reveals that they broadcast recorded speeches through autorickshaws to avoid high costs. T K S Elangovan, DMK's spokesperson, points out that the Election Commission of India includes street-corner meeting expenses in candidates' expenditure limits, a major deterrent this season.
A Sign of Changing Times
Vaigaiselvan, a former AIADMK minister, views this trend as a natural evolution, with parties increasingly favoring social media over traditional meetings. He adds that the quality of listeners has improved, while the quality of speakers has declined, leading to fewer informative speeches and the loss of street-corner meetings' prominence in campaigns.
This shift underscores a broader transformation in electioneering, where digital outreach and cost considerations are reshaping how political messages are delivered and received in urban centers like Chennai.
