DMK using civic plank in Lok Sabha campaign

With four of the six Assembly segments (Vellore, Anaicut, Gudiyattam and Ambur) having DMK MLAs, the campaign by the party candidate DM Kathir Anand highlights the lack of civic facilities in the segments represented by AIADMK MLAs in Vaniyambadi and KV Kuppam.

A senior party functionary told DT Next, “our aim is to prove that the DMK winning 38 Lok Sabha seats was not a fluke by ensuring that Kathir Anand wins.”

“MPs, MLAs and former ministers who were placed in charge of Assembly segments by the DMK high command have already completed one round of visits and will come again once campaign starts in the earnest when nominations are finalised,” said Vellore district presidium chairman Mohammed Saqhy.

Stating that former ministers AV Velu, K Ponmudi, S Muthusamy and KN Nehru had already visited their allotted areas, he added “former ministers guide the local workers and ensure that out-of-town cadre campaign with locals. Velu is expected to address a meeting in Ambur shortly.”

The party has ensured that Kathir Anand had prior information on local needs. As Vellore DMK MLA P Karthikeyan said “when he (Kathir Anand0 visited Perumugai after filing his nomination, locals demanded a subway to cross the Chennai-Bengaluru national Highway and he promised to take it up with NHAI when he wins.”

“Issues involving Centre can only be handled by MP and that is what he promises,” Karthikeyan added.

“Kathir Anand promised to solve drinking water problem in town,” said Congress town committee president G Suresh Kumar, while Gudiyattam’s new MLA S Kathavarayan said “Kathir Anand is yet to start campaigning for the August 5 poll. But that he will win is a given. I will ensure that he wins by a huge margin.”