CHENNAI: Aiming to create a record by securing the mandate for a successive second term, Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa is all set to kickstart her campaign for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry at the Island Grounds today. She is also likely to release the party's election manifesto earlier in the day.
The event would witness introduction of candidates will be introduced for the 21 Assembly constituencies in the city - RK Nagar, Perambur, Kolathur, Villivakkam, Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar, Egmore, Royapuram, Harbour, Chepauk-Triplicane, Thousand Lights, Anna Nagar, Virugambakkam, Saidapet, T Nagar, Mylapore, Velacherry, Sholinganallur, Alandur, Maduravoyal, Madhavaram and Tiruvotriyur.
Jayalalithaa's address would be telecast live through propaganda vehicles with large screens stationed at important places in the city. Later, it would be screened at many other places through these vehicles.
The 15-day campaign schedule of Jayalalithaa is as follows: April 9 - RK Nagar (Chennai dt). April 11 - Cuddalore, April 13 - Dharmapuri, April 15- Virudhunagar, April 18 - Kanchipuram, April - 20- Salem, April 23 - Trichy, April 25 - Puducherry, April 27 - Madurai, May 1 - Coimbatore, May 3 - Villupuram, May 5 - Erode, May 8 - Thanjavur, May 10 - Tirunelveli and May 12 - Vellore.
AIADMK functionaries in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram are making elaborate arrangements for the first day of the campaign of Jayalalithaa and large number of party cadre would be gathering at the Island Grounds.
After sweeping the 2011 Assembly elections, Jayalalithaa steered the party to win 37 Lok Sabha elections out of 39 in Tamil Nadu. Significantly, the AIADMK is contesting in 227 seats leaving seven for its allies, who are in the fray on the Two Leaves symbol of the AIADMK.
CANDIDATE CHANGE. The AIADMK general secretary has changed three more candidates. She shuffled the candidates for Tiruchy East (R Manoharan) and Tiruchy West S Tamilarasi. Now, Tamilarasi will be contesting from Tiruchy East and Manoharan from Tiruchy West. For Radhapuram constituency, IS Inbadurai replaces GT Lawrence.