Party offices brisk again as poaching efforts gain pace

Major political parties have restarted their poaching drive, which was put on hold due to pandemic, as there are just nine months left for the general Assembly polls.

AIADMK and BJP workers are now frequenting party offices seeking new applications for cadre enrolment.

To keep the momentum going, political leaders, including Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, opposition leader MK Stalin and BJP leader L Murugan are releasing pictures of welcoming workers from other parties on a regular basis.

The ruling AIADMK had also started pressing free mobile food distribution vehicles and fumigation vehicles in Salem as part of the party outreach programme by the IT wing.

“Last week there was multiple meetings scheduled at the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah to discuss the appointment of new district secretaries and expand the party outreach programmes, but after a Minister contracted the virus, party works were put on hold. Now we are restarting it,” an AIADMK senior at party headquarters said.

All the district secretaries will soon expand the party outreach programmes and take up relief works in the respective constituencies. It will be a prelude to the next year’s political campaign.

The AIADMK senior said Ministers, who have recovered from coronavirus have also started involving in party works.

“BJP which is also conducting regular cadre enrolment drive had also started attracting cadre and office-bearers from other parties. BJP state president L Murugan has successfully poached office-bearers from DMK last month and last week three senior members from VCK and BSP had joined the BJP,” a source at party headquarters, Kamalalayam said.