CHENNAI: The Dravidian majors have gone full throttle with their campaigns for the rural local body polls in nine districts slated to be held on October 6 (Wednesday) and October 9 (Saturday).
The candidates and functionaries of both the parties have largely centred their talks on the poll promises made by the DMK ahead of the Assembly elections. While the AIADMK campaign pointed out the promises that were not kept by the ruling party, the DMK listed out the number of promises it translated into action.
DMK propaganda secretary T Sabapathy Mohan, reasoning their approach, told TNIE, “We have fulfilled 202 out of the 505 poll promises that we made. That is, 40 per cent of them within four months. Hence, we have to highlight our performance to draw the attention of voters — the beneficiaries of these fulfilled promises.”
He added, “Be it the free bus rides for women passengers; separate agriculture budget; reduction in prices of petrol and Aavin milk, we have to get the acknowledgement from the beneficiaries.” AIADMK spokesperson RM Babu Murugavel said, “The AIADMK had fulfilled all the poll promises made by the party ahead of the Assembly elections in 2011 and 2016. Unlike us, the DMK made unrealistic promises only to grab the votes to capture power. Now, they are using their oratorical skills to tweak the promises they were not able to keep. As the Opposition, we have to expose these failures.”
He added that the AIADMK detailed to the voters what the promises made by the DMK were, and how they have tweaked them. Murugavel also questioned the DMK’s double stand on conducting the local polls in two phases, as the party, during the last two assembly elections and parliamentary elections, had voiced their support for single-phase elections.
What they’re talking about
Both the DMK and the AIADMK have tried to shape the discussion over poll promises in their favour. Here are the talking points
Promises they claim they kept DMK
‘Damage’ they say DMK did AIADMK