Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar: Time to pay back DMK candidate

Introducing party candidate V V Senthilnathan to cadre in a meeting, the minister said, “He was selected by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Of the four constituencies where bypolls are scheduled, Aravakurichi is a vital one. We would ensure our candidate wins with the maximum margin”.

Claiming that Senthilnathan lost to DMK’s K C Palanisamy in the 2011 Assembly elections due to a conspiracy hatched by Senthil Balaji, Vijayabaskar said, “Senthilnathan has now got a chance to triumph over the same person who betrayed him in 2011. We will certainly teach him a lesson”.

Dismissing suggestions that the AMMK would split the votes of the ruling party, the minister said, “The AMMK is not in the scene at all. The people have understood the party and its candidate. They cannot do anything against the AIADMK, which is backed by around 1.50 crore members”.

Stating that the 50-year-old demand for a separate taluk in Pugalur was fulfilled, Vijayabaskar said, “We are going to start the works on the Rs 490 crore barrage in Pugalur. In the past 6 months, we have carried out development works at a cost of Rs 30 crore. We will approach the electorate for votes by highlighting these achievements”.