Jayalalithaa to hit campaign trail today for record victory

Chennai

Aiming to create a record of sorts by winning it for the second successive term and retain power, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will launch her election campaign in the city on Saturday.

She would be addressing a public meeting at Island Grounds, a venue which was popular for hosting expos and meetings. The party workers were gearing up for the rally and were looking forward to the first campaign address by Jayalalithaa and arrangements were on in full swing. Senior ministers held detailed discussions with the party district secretaries about the arrangements.

"Since this is the first campaign meeting of Amma and it will be held in Chennai, we are planning a grand show of strength", AIADMK leaders said. Party sources said even as Jayalalithaa addresses the cadre at the rally, arrangements were made to telecast live in all the city constituencies through LED vans, which would be positioned at vantage points in many areas.

Even as her rivals DMK, DMDK-PWF and BJP are yet to release the list of candidates, the AIADMK supremo is setting out on a gruelling campaigning schedule covering several districts, including   neighbouring Puducherry. After finishing her campaign in Chennai, the AIADMK chief would campaign in Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and other northern districts and cover the entire state during her month-long tour.

After sweeping the 2011 assembly election, Jayalalithaa single-handedly decimated  all her opponents in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, winning 37 of the 39 seats. Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa announced on Friday, the change of three more candidates to fight the assembly election. In a statement here, she announced that R Manoharan would contest from Tiruchy West, Dr S Tamizharasi from  Tiruchy East and I S Inbadurai from Radhapuram.