Pempilai Orumai struggling to win support in the Assembly election

Munnar: Pempilai Orumai, the organisation of women estate workers formed to press for their demands, is struggling to expand their influence.

The Orumai, which has registered itself as a trade union after its fairly successful agitation for bonus and increase in wages of estate workers, has fielded a candidate in the Assembly election from Devikulam constituency. However, it candidate J. Rajeswari is finding it difficult to raise funds for their campaign and expand support outside the estates.

The Orumai had fielded 33 candidates in the panchayat elections— 26 at the grama panchayat level, six at the block level besides contesting one seat for the district panchayat. It won a seat at block panchayat level and two seats at the grama panchayat level in Devikulam.

However, Gomathi, who was elected as block panchayat member defected to the CPI (M) after the elections. This was a big blow to the Orumai. It caused some loss of confidence and fear among the women workers.

Now, Orumai’s foray into the Assembly elections lacks enthusiastic support from the estate workers unlike during the panchayat elections. This is said to be because of fear and uncertainty whether their leaders would stand with them. The Orumai is promising various benefits to estate workers including land and development of tourism in and around Munnar.

Besides, Orumai, the AIADMK is also trying to win support among the estate workers both in Devikulam and Peerumedu constituencies. The prime offer is low cost hotels and posters displayed show Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa opening Amma canteens. Thus the campaign revolves round freebies. The party has designated activists in each lane of estate workers to cater to the workers and win their votes.

The presence of Pempilai Orumai and AIADMK has created some confusion among campaigners of the main contestants— S. Rajendran of the CPI (M) and A. K. Moni of the Congress.  It is to be seen who will be bigger loser on account of votes canvassed by Orumai and AIADMK.

With inputs from G. Rajkumar