Chennai: The AIADMK workers are going all out to ensure the victory of Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the June 27 by-poll to Radhakrishnan Nagar assembly constituency were she is contesting as a candidate against the lone CPI challenger.
Driving the AIADMK campaign are a battery of ministers led by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Party functionaries from across the state, too, are pitching in as they seek a big victory for Jayalalithaa in the by-poll, were prominent opposition parties DMK, BJP, Congress, MDMK and PMK have, however, decided to boycott.
Jayalalithaa is contesting the by-poll after her acquittal by Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate wealth case. She returned as chief minister on May 23 following a seven-month hiatus which was forced following her conviction in the case by a Bengaluru special court. She is contesting the poll with a view to fulfilling the constitutional requirement for getting elected to the Assembly within six months.
AIADMK functionaries are seeking votes highlighting the ruling party’s welfare measures such as free mixies, grinders, milch cows, sheep, laptop and bicycles for students and the popular ‘Amma Canteen’ initiative for selling food items at highly subsidised rates.
CPI, which is the lone recognised opposition party in the fray after others chose to boycott the by-poll, has fielded its senior state leader C Mahendran against Jayalalithaa.
The left party is seeking votes on the promise to “protect the interests of working classes, the common man and democracy.”
DMK, BJP, Congress, MDMK and PMK announced a boycott of the election as they alleged the ruling party would use money power to swing the outcome their way. The opposition parties also reasoned that there was no need to contest the by-poll as the Assembly elections are due early next year.
