Vellore

The list includes 29 ministers, sitting and former MLAs, former MPs, State government’s special representative at New Delhi N Thalavai Sundaram apart from members of the various party organs. While six ministers have been appointed as in charge of Vellore and KV Kuppam segments, Gudiyattam and Vaniyambadi will have five ministers each. Ambur and Anaicut will be taken care of by four and three ministers respectively.

The party directive signed by coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami has asked all the listed members to descend on the assembly segments allotted to them, stay there and campaign to ensure the victory of NDA candidate AC Shanmugam.

Accordingly, Labour Minister Nilofer Kafeel along with three ministers will campaign in Vaniyambadi constituency. Vellore east district secretary and Arakkonam MLA S Ravi and west district secretary and Commercial Taxes Minister KC Veeramani will be in charge of their respective districts. This means Ravi would work only in KV Kuppam assembly segment that falls under the east district as remaining five segments come under west district.

It may be noted that the last time, former minister VS Vijay was in charge of Vellore assembly segment and Veeramani was given control of remaining five seats. More ministers were involved in the poll campaign this time due to the defeat in Ambur and Gudiyattam assembly by polls, said sources. “The aim is to win the election failing which the DMK would claim the AIADMK was routed in April 18 elections due to anti-incumbency,” they added.

Black Flag Protest

• Miffed that the officials have refused permission to conduct Gangaiamman temple festival near Pernambut, black flags were hoisted in nearly 400 houses in two villages and threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha polls
• Three villages, Sithanakanavai, Gourapet and Kamalapuram, conducted the temple festival for 75 years
• In 2016, a community from Sithanakanavai demanded to be included in the festivities
• As the matter went to court, residents of Gaurapet and Kamalapuram conducted the festival on private land
• When Gaurapet and Kamalapuram villagers sought permission for festival this year, officials alleged delayed it citing Sithanakanvai should also be included. Enraged, the villages hosted black flags 

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