CHENNAI: At ‘home’ a day after her party’s election campaign peaked with the release of the ‘serve-all’ manifesto, AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday criss-crossed RK Nagar, her constituency from where she is seeking re-election. As the convoy went past, party cadre lined up along the roads, welcoming her with karpoora araathi and poorna kumbham.
“I am here because of the people, and I will stand for the people. You are my breath and you are my life... Give me one more mandate with a massive margin to serve you better in the coming years,” Jayalalithaa appealed to the public, who responded with loud cheers. The AIADMK supremo was given a rousing reception by party cadre on her way from her Poes Garden residence to RK Nagar. During her campaign, she addressed the public at five places in the constituency, where she highlighted the key promises made in the poll manifesto — 100 units of free power, 50 per cent cut in the price of two-wheelers for working women, mobile phones for all family card holders, hike in stipend for fishermen during the ‘lean’ period and exclusive housing scheme for them and free set-top boxes for Arasu Cable TV consumers among others.
Recalling the unprecedented rains that devastated Chennai last year, Jayalalithaa said as many 97,411 families affected by floods in this constituency alone were given an assistance of `48 crore. “I promise you that steps will be taken to establish storm water drains which would withstand even incessant rains,” she added.
“I have great faith in you, and you too reposed it on me in the by-election last year. In this Assembly election, let dharma win and adharma get defeated; let truth win and opportunism be drowned for the sake of growth and prosperity of the State, give me a better mandate than the last time,” said Jayalalithaa.
As the MLA of RK Nagar from where she won the bypoll, she had undertaken various welfare measures and undertook several development works in the constituency, Jayalalithaa pointed out.
This included renovation of Kasimedu fishing harbour at a cost of `92.63 crore for the sizeable fishermen community, railway overbridge across Kathivakkam High Road, construction of 556 multi-storey residential quarters for those in Power Kuppam, 480 new residential quarters for Aranganathapuram area, new power connection to 30,593 families, renovation of 306 inner roads, drinking water projects and drainage facilities, and completion of 1,824 infrastructure facilities at a cost of `320 crore.
Jayalalithaa added that she had laid foundation for various developmental works worth `193.26 crore on February 28. During her visit, Jaya also canvassed votes for party candidates P Vetrivel for Perambur and K S Srinivasan for Harbour constituencies.
‘Renovated Kasimedu Harbour’
Jaya noted that she had undertaken various welfare measures in the constituency as the MLA of RK Nagar. This included renovation of Kasimedu fishing harbour at a cost of `92.63 crore for the sizeable fishermen community, railway overbridge across Kathivakkam High Road
Steps will be taken to establish storm water drains which would withstand even incess-ant rains...I have great faith in you, and you too reposed it on me in the by-election— Jayalalithaa
[[In this election, let dharma win and adharma get defeated; let truth win and opportunism be drowned
— J jayalalithaa, AIADMK supremo
