The Congress party through some of its spokesmen, was educating the public till recently, about the desirability and imperative necessity for avoiding party politics, in the Local self-government spheres. “Those are places” said they, “wherein, civic needs are looked after, and they are not places wherein polities are adumbrated. It is only in legislatures that political parties should attempt to give shape to their theories, not where there is the need to confirm to a set of rules and regulations. Only those, who are imbued with service mentality should enter the local self-government institutions, be they of any political persuasion. These places should not become cockpits of politics, for, unnecessary rancour would be generated, which would lead to the ultimate deterioration of administration and defeat the very purpose for which these institutions were founded.

In fact, Mr. C.Subramaniam, pleaded eloquently for the avoidance of political bickering in that arena. On the floor of the State Assembly, the Minister lifted himself up to a higher plan and said, “I do not like the idea of political parties contesting elections for these local bodies. I would request the political parties to come to an agreement not to contest these elections on party basis.”

On behalf of the D.M.K., an assurance was offered— “if the minister so desires, all the political parties could sit around a table and come to a gentlemen’s agreement to desist from contesting on party basis.” This was welcomed by all those interested in local self-government and hailed as a salubrious move.

But there is a vociferous group in the Congress party, over which Mr. Subramaniam seems to have no hold. Others might find, his suggestions intelligent, worth noting and even accepting, but not those, who find the best opportunity for wire-pulling, stage-managing, and fund collecting, during such election times. And against that group Mr.Subramaniam is powerless.

In the Congress party itself, Mr.Subramaniam is assigned the role of camp clerk but not the role of a policy-maker.

Though, Mr.C.S. is attempting to step into the field of policy making, his way is being barred, by those who have grown grey in the art of manipulation and window dressing.

So, his well-thought out plea on the floor of the House, fell on deaf ears, in the party camp, and the Warwicks there have taken the decision to contest these elections on party basis.

Mr.C.Subramaniam seems to have offered no resistance to this move, perhaps he was conscious of his powerlessness. And so, the Congress has taken the big drum and has entered in right earnest, the arena of local self-government.

So, the D.M.K., though it wanted to establish and maintain a wholesome principle, has been forced to meet out this challenge.

The aim of the Congress party in attempting to enter Municipalities, is firstly to provide some place of rank, to those, who have not found a place in the legislature.

The Congress considers that these local bodies are so many feeder centres.

The Congress party wants to tap the resources of the rich people of each locality, by catering to their vanity.

Already, agents, and canvassers are busy in the political market. Highest bidders are welcomed, men with moderate means are asked to stand by.

The Congress has got a distinct advantage which the D.M.K., cannot hope to get, and should not aim at.

Anybody can become a Congress canditate!

He might not have so much as touched a Khadhar cloth—he might have been an abkari contractor—he might be a rank conservative, he might have been a lackey of the imperialist, he might still be a black-marketer, he might be a social menace—but he could become a Congress canditate, provided he has got the means of paving a silvery path.

The D.M.K., cannot and ought not to debase itself. Only those partymen of known merit, who are held in high esteem by the public, not for his affluence but because of his service, could be set up as candidates. Seats cannot be doled out—or auctioned to the highest bidder.

When the Congress announced its intention to enter the contest, naturally the enthusiasts in the D.M.K., expressed their fervour and desire, to enter the contest.

The best argument that they put forward was this:
Unless we take steps to meet this challenge, the Congress would debase these local bodies, by ushering in one-party dominance in those places.

They should give a stiff fight to the Congress by themselves entering the field, and by also assisting those who are prepared to fight the Congress—provided such men are endowed with progressive ideals.
The General Secretary hence, arranged for a consultative conference and those who attended it, gave good suggestions.

They were not unaware of the fact, that in the elections to local bodies, money plays a deciding role, caste has got a firm hold; They admitted that in every town, there are particular localities, which could be termed as pocket buroughs. There are certain constituencies, wherein the caste feeling could be easily tapped and cashed.

In almost all important towns, the course of these elections are determined by the machinations of half a dozen families, who have sinister influence.

The number of voters being small as compared with the assembly elections, the temptation to and the chances of purchasing votes become strong.

Those who urged upon the General Secretary, to allow partymen to enter the contest, were quite well aware of all these and other ugly facts as well, but they based their reasoning on sound democratic principle and said that they should be allowed to contest, wherever the climate was conducive.
The General Secretary held another consultative meeting, and has issued a statement, based broadly on the suggestions received, and has constituted special committees, to look after the problem of granting permission to contest.

So the call has come, and those who are determined to thwart the attempt of the Congress, should mobilise all available resources and strength in right earnest.

We would request that our partymen in the various towns should not try to imitate the Congress, by roping in all and sundry, as party candidates, but should try to maintain the purity and dignity of the party, at all costs.

A few more seats gained at the expense of party principles, is not to be encouraged. We are a growing party, and our law of life is entirely different from that of the Congress. That party has to bolster up its weakness and its unprincipled ways, by parading electoral victories, even by taking into its fold any person who happens to be a ‘somebody’ in a town. Not so our way. We have a mission to perform which should never be marred by unholy alliances, hasty combinations and doubtful friendships just for the sake of electoral victories.

We request our friends, to keep this view, while entering the contest in the local body elections.

(25-01-1959)