Chennai:
While Tamil Nadu is surcharged with the Lankan Tamil rhetoric, there is more bad news from Sri Lanka. Just a day before the state goes to polls, there are reports of the killing of 378 Tamil civilians including 100 children.
As the news came, the Opposition said that the development vindicates its stance that the recent ceasefire announcement was a drama enacted by India and Sri Lanka. They say this will backfire electorally.
"The killing goes on, even the UN's Security Council has released satellite pictures of huge craters in the no fire zone. We have hardcore evidence against Sri Lanka," said Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK leader and Union Health Minister.
But on the ground, for many neutral voters this is not an electoral issue but just an emotional issue.
"This is not an electoral issue. They are trying to whip up for political gains," said Sharada Ramanathan, a filmmaker.
Analysts say just around three per cent of partymen are influenced by the Lankan Tamils issue. The Sri Lankan government's suspension of major combat operations against the LTTE, many believed, would win brownie points for the Congress and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu. But reports of the bombing of a hospital on election eve could cost the DMK coalition heavily.