CHENNAI: Appealing to the people of RK Nagar constituency to elect her with a huge margin on the basis of AIADMK government’s achievements during the past four years, Chief Minister and party general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday described the by-election as a forerunner to the 2016 Assembly elections.
Recalling that the voters of RK Nagar had elected AIADMK candidate P Vetrivel in 2011 accepting her request, Jayalalithaa said, “This is a by-election you did not want, I know, since there is only one year left for elections to the State Assembly. But this has been forced on you because of a case foisted on me due to political conspiracy. And I have come before you as a candidate.”
Further, the AIADMK supremo said this was not a mere by-election but an opportunity to bid adieu to those whose only job is to hinder the progress of the State. “I have not come here to seek votes by pointing out the shortcomings of others. Instead, I have come here to seek votes on the basis of the welfare schemes and visionary projects implemented by our government. Just because the AIADMK and myself cannot be defeated at the hustings, opposition parties are not contesting this by-election and have been reeling out so many imaginary stories,” she thundered.
Explaining that winning an election and defeating others were two different objectives, Jayalalithaa said,“For me, winning means winning with a massive mandate and that is my ideal.”
Pointing out that the Left parties had profusely hailed the welfare schemes of the AIADMK government in the State Assembly, Jayalalithaa referred to the speeches of CPI floor leader M Arumugam, senior member S Gunasekaran, and CPM member K Balabharathi, and said, “Now, just because the CPI has fielded its candidate against me, they are levelling charges against us. I have been working to fulfil the expectations of people and will continue to do so.”
Listing the various welfare measures being implemented by the AIADMK government, Jayalalithaa gave details of the schemes undertaken in RK Nagar. Drinking water and drainage projects, installation of street lights, construction of storm water drains, etc., were completed at a total cost of `242 crore and works worth `36 crore were on progress during the current financial year, she highlighted.
Earlier, when Jayalalithaa left her Poes Garden residence to Tondiarpet, party cadre and public gave her a rousing reception all through the route. At many places, her convoy had to make its way through the thousands of people who gathered to greet her.
Tamil Film Industry To Back AIADMK
Chennai: Hours before Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa began her campaign rally from Poes Garden towards R K Nagar on Monday, the Tamil film industry announced its full support to her ahead of the R K Nagar bypolls on June 27. “The Tamil Film Producers Council, the South Indian Film Artistes Association (Nadigar Sangam), the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association, the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) will support Jayalalithaa. We will hold a campaign at R K Nagar at 3 pm on June 24,” said Kalaipuli S Thanu, the head of Tamil Film Producers Council, at the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening. “We are sure the Chief Minister will emerge victorious,” Thanu said.