Begin typing your search...
Leaders, cadres try new tactics to get voters’ attention
As the campaigning for the Vellore Lok Sabha election nears the climax, the antics of contenders and cadre to impress voters are defying imagination.
By
migrator
migrator
Vellore
Working in the farm, posing as dead body, using astrology, symbolism etc. are part of the campaigning for these cadres trying hard to get the voters’ attention.
As the campaigning for the Vellore Lok Sabha election nears the climax, the antics of contenders and cadre to impress voters are defying imagination. Working in the farm, posing as dead body, using astrology, symbolism etc. are part of the campaigning for these cadres trying hard to get the voters’ attention.
Even star campaigner like DMK youth wing president Udayanidhi Stalin was not left untouched by the antic bug in Vellore. He de-husked coconuts – a throwback to the time when he acted in a similar scene in a movie – at Ambalur in Vaniyambadi constituency while campaigning among Muslims to win the minority vote.
Independent candidate P Chellapandian of the TN Tipplers Awareness party, who finally succeeded in getting a two-wheeler vehicle permit from the Election Commission for campaigning, surprised visitors at the Vellore new bus stand, when he sat in front of his two-wheeler like a dead body. The simulation, included tying up his jaw with a cloth and placing a coin on his forehead like in local customs. His message – drink in moderation and in safety to ensure a long life.
Not to be left behind, cadre from other districts camping in Vellore are also coming up with off-beat ways to catch the voters eyes. Pernambut townin Gudiyattam witnessed a sensation while DMK cadres from Coimbatore south unit resorted to parrot astrology to seek votes.
Taking the idea a step further, Pollachi town DMK youth wing started campaigning using traditional Muslim practices to attract the minority community which has a substantial presence in the district.
They roped in Mohammed Ibrahim Babu, deputy organiser of the Pollachi town DMK youth wing, to dress and act like a Muslim man who used to put sambarani (benzoin resin) into shops to chase away spirits. It created a fanfare as the cadre accompanying him handed out notices seeking support for DMK candidate Kathir Anand.
Needless to say, the move drew some criticism from local residents who demanded to know why the party which prided itself on its rationalism was now stooping to gimmicks to seek votes.
“Are you so bereft of ideas that you have to perform parrot astrology and use sambranai,” asked a woman voter much to the discomfiture of the campaigning cadre who then moved away silently.
AIADMK gets a boost from AMMK workers
With just three days to go for the campaign to end in the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency, the ruling AIADMK has intensified its poll strategies and is making all efforts to ensure the victory of party candidate AC Shanmugam.
The AIADMK has appointed five Ministers to take care of each Assembly constituency and the micromanagement of covering every 50 votes by ruling party machinery has commenced.
Apart from this, AIADMK poll managers in Vellore had also reached out to the AMMK functionaries insisting them to work for the parent AIADMK. According to AIADMK insiders, the cadres of AMMK who had shifted their base, back to the AIADMK are well-taken care by the AIADMK ward level secretaries. “AMMK has recorded six per cent votes in the previously held elections and we are sure of getting this vote transferred to our party candidate and there is a synergy between the ruling AIADMK and AMMK cadres,” AIADMK leader and former MP Anwar Raja told DT Next.
AMMK functionaries are now working for the victory of AIADMK candidate and all of them have been assigned the campaign job by the AIADMK functionaries, Anwar Raja said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of triple talaq gaining publicity among the Muslim dominated pockets of Vellore, the AIADMK had also decided to intensify its campaign more in non-Muslim pockets. For the next three days, every voter in Vellore district will see at least two AIADMK campaigners in a day seeking their support.
On the last day of the campaign a whirlwind campaign is planned by top AIADMK Ministers covering all the six Assembly constituencies coming within Vellore Lok Sabha seat, party sources said.
The AIADMK leadership had also briefed party Muslim leaders and minority wing to ensure that there is no distribution of cash for votes by the rival DMK and some of the AIADMK leaders are also monitoring the DMK’s campaign looking out for poll-related violations, sources said.
Submit poll accounts or face penal action, Collector warns candidates
Collector and Returning officer of Vellore Lok Sabha constituency A Shanmugasundaram has threatened the candidates, who fail to submit expenditure accounts thrice before polling day, with action under the Indian Penal code, officials said. Shanmugasundaram issued notices to eight independent candidates and Naam Tamilar Katchi candidate Deepalakshmi for not submitting accounts for the first review held on July 27. Accounts have to be submitted before expenditure observers thrice, with the first review being held on July 27, the second on July 30 and the final review on August 3. While the recognised state and national parties are to submit accounts between 10 am and 2 pm on the above days, other candidates should submit accounts between 2 pm and 5 pm. However, responding to the Collector’s warning, some candidates, who spoke to reporters, said they were unable to do so as such reviews cut into campaign time, specially with polling being not even a week away.
DMK president MK Stalin can never become CM as people identify his party with arrogance and hence threw him out of power years ago. Unlike the family oriented DMK, an ordinary worker could aspire for top posts in AIADMK. I hope that AC Shanmugam would win by a margin of 4 lakh votes.
-O Panneerselvam, Deputy CM and AIADMK Convener
DMK’s victory in Vellore was just postponed. No power could prevent victory of Kathir Anand, which would lead to Stalin becoming Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Kathir Anand’s victory would be a fitting tribute to our leader Karunanidhi on his first death anniversary
-Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK youth wing secretary
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
