Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa
Campaigners striving for total prohibition in Tamil Nadu were in for some disappointment today as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa did not mention anything on the subject in her Independence Day speech.
It was widely speculated that Ms Jayalalithaa may announce partial prohibition or spell out her long-term plan with students and political parties taking to the streets for the cause over the last few weeks.
The recent death of a Gandhian activist, Sasi Perumal, during an anti-liquor protest in Kanyakumari turned into a flashpoint that revived widespread demand for stopping sale of liquor in the state.
With elections in Tamil Nadu less than a year away, prohibition could turn into a key poll issue.
Although, earlier only the PMK and the MDMK had championed the cause, DMK chief Karunanidhi recently joined the bandwagon, assuring to strongly work for prohibition if elected, citing how farmers and workers are turning alcoholic.
The DMDK, VCK and the Congress are also protesting across Tamil Nadu for the cause. This could be common ground to forge alliances as well.
"I always knew she can't and won't bring in prohibition," said DMK Spokesperson T K S Elangovan.
State Congress President EVKS Ilangovan said, "Even after all these protests she hasn't said anything about prohibition. This only means we would have to intensify our protests."
Liquor sales fetch around Rs 27000 crore annual revenue to the Tamil Nadu government, which is known for providing election sops such as mixers, grinders, fans and laptops.
Successive state governments have claimed that stopping the sale of liquor would pave the way for deadly illicit liquor trade to flourish.
Campaigners have not lost hope either. The Tamil Nadu assembly session begins on August 24 and some hope the chief minister could still spring a surprise on the floor of the house.