ERODE: It’s 9 am at the Pudhur RN in Erode and this is supposed to be the first stop on the day’s campaign trail for Congress candidate E V K S Elangovan. He was supposed to be here at 7 am but he arrives eventually, followed by a host of cars and two wheelers carrying party flags. Today’s campaign is supposed to cover Erode (West) assembly segment fully and will be the first time that Elangovan takes to the road, a deviation from the initial formalities of holding cadre meetings and opening poll offices in his constituency.
After RN Pudhur he proceeds to Lakshmi Nagar, Kalingarayanpalayam and Virumandampalayam, finally reaching Elavamalai. Besides talking up his party, in all these areas, he laid claim to his political lineage, introducing himself to small groups of people as the grandson of Periyar and son of EVK Sampath, indicating that he possesses the mantle of both. ``I crossed your area many times to Bavani, which falls in the Gobi constituency. Now, I wish to serve my home segment,’’ he says, offering a reason for his shifting from the erstwhile Gobi constituency to Erode. ``I do not want anything. My only aim is that I must be called a good man. That is enough,’’ he says.
As he goes from one place to the next an amplifier, attached to another vehicle, provides accompanying music and lyrics. “Sonia, annai aonia congressai kakka vanda sonia,” goes one rather pragmatic song while “idhu nattai kakku kai, ungal veetai kakkum kai” (this hand will protect the nation and your family) and “naan ungal veettu pillai,” (I am like your son), both songs from an MGR film, provide a more emotive touch.
He meets with mixed responses throughout the tour. At Elavamalai Mulapalayam, for instance, all is not smooth as many women rush to his van shouting angrily about not being given colour TVs that were promised to them and various other woes. In areas like Suriayamplaayam, Chithodu and Nasiyanur, however, he is greeted by smiling faces with folded hands.