TIRUCHY: As the poll temperature heats up in the state, the Dravidian majors have plunged into active campaigns. The DMK, after a whirlwind tour, is canvassing about the government’s achievements and schemes. The arch-rival AIADMK has launched a door-to-door campaign highlighting the ruling party’s failed promises.
Alliance formations have become clear, paving the way for groundwork for the rivals. While the Chief Minister MK Stalin has asked the leaders to maintain constant touch with the people and visit them booth-wise, the ministers have been seen more active than before over the past couple of days.
DMK leaders launched public meetings at six locations simultaneously, even as cadres were pushed for ground-level promotions.
On Monday, the Minister for Transport SS Sivasankar, who was literally making a whirlwind tour in his home constituency of Kunnam in Perambalur, was seen taking part in as many as 94 events, including inaugurating completed projects, launching new schemes and distributing welfare assistance to the tune of Rs 11.82 crore in his own home constituency alone. On the other hand, Minister for Mines and Minerals
S Regupathy was seen visiting the people of Thirumayam, campaigning about government schemes, and verifying whether they had received the benefits.
Meanwhile, senior minister KN Nehru was seen interacting with the college and school students along with Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. Nehru spoke about the history of DMK and its contributions to the development of Tamil Nadu. He also spoke confidently that the DMK would return to power again and do more development for the state.
Similarly, the former minister and DMK Karur strongman V Senthilbalaji was seen taking part in as many as 20 programmes on Monday, including the distribution of marriage assistance, welfare assistance to the differently abled, and laptops to students. “We have already collected the details of the voters in every booth in all the districts and have been maintaining constant touch with the people and rectifying their issues as and when, and so we are hopeful that the people of Tamil Nadu would favour DMK in the upcoming election,” a senior functionary from Tiruchy said.
While the DMK is on its toes meeting the people, arch-rival AIADMK has been seen in high spirits, with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami asking leaders to focus on campaigning on the DMK’s failure. Accordingly, the AIADMK leaders have launched ‘Vidiya Aatchi-Ungal Billeh Satchi’ (highlighting power and other charges hike) campaign.
The doorto-door campaign against the DMK government’s recent hike in housing tax and electricity bill is the highlight of the campaign. The Tiruchy Urban AIADMK had commenced the door-to-door campaign with the tag of ‘Punishment Bill’ and meeting the people, particularly women, and distributing a comparative display of bills between the AIADMK and DMK governments.
“We receive enormous support from the women in every household, and they are angry against the DMK, and this will certainly reflect in the upcoming assembly polls”, a senior AIADMK functionary said.
"We have collected details of voters in every booth and addressing their issues, if any" – DMK functionary
"We receive enormous support from women in every household, and they are angry against the DMK" – AIADMK worker