PUDUCHERRY: In the run-up to the 2011 Assembly elections, the distribution of rain relief has become a major means for gaining political mileage. Now, it has taken a new turn with former chief minister and DMK convenor R V Janakiraman urging the government to include municipal councillors for distributing the Rs 1,000 relief.
So far, the distribution of relief had been done by the MLAs, causing much heartburn among the leaders of rival political parties.
With MLAs, including ministers, distributing relief in cash in their respective constituencies, those are trying to land that position after the coming elections are not at ease.
They feel the MLAs were wooing voters in the name of rain relief. Even Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, who has been elected from Nellithope constituency and is now planning to contest from Kamaraj Nagar, has taken advantage of his position to distribute assistance to the residents of Kamaraj Nagar constituency on Saturday.
The DMK is at a disadvantage in Nellithope constituency as AIADMK MLA Om Sakthi Segar is distributing the relief here.
This has posed a problem to Janakiraman, whose political run for the sixth term was stopped by Segar in Nellithope constituency during last elections.
Incidentally, Nellithope constituency has become a prestige issue for the DMK ever since the AIADMK wrested it from the DMK in 2006.
The closely contested seat was held by DMK from 1980 to 2006. Janakiraman won the seat in 1985, 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2001 till he lost the seat to Segar in 2006.
Since then, the DMK had been attempting to win back the seat.
The tension over rain relief recently spilled over with the DMK and AIADMK cadre engaging in a clash on Saturday. This resulted in the suspension of rain relief distribution.
In the meantime, 10,000 people in Nellithope constituency are eagerly awaiting the promised relief.
Now with six of the total seven municipal councillors in Nellithope belonging to the DMK, the party is pressuring the Congress government to permit distribution of rain relief through representatives of local bodies.
