TIRUPPUR: The AIADMK was trolled heavily on Monday after the Tiruppur district put up a poster announcing gifts to people who attend the party’s public meeting scheduled at Uthukuli on March 5 to mark the 77th birth anniversary of former CM J Jayalalithaa.
Netizens wondered why the AIADMK, which claims to have a strong vote bank, has resorted to such tactics to attract crowds. AIADMK functionaries, however, said gifts are given to audience every year.
The Uthukuli south union of AIADMK, which falls under Perundurai Assemble constituency, is organising the public meeting on March 5. AIADMK’s election wing secretary Pollachi V Jayaraman, Bhavani MLA KA Karuppanan, Perundurai MLA S Jayakumar, Kinathukadavu MLA S Damodaran, former Tiruppur MP C Sivasamy are likely to speak at the event. Party cadres have been distributing pamphlets to people and also pasting posters.
One of the posters, stated that three people from the audience would be selected through a lucky draw and given gold coins.
In addition, household appliances such as mixer grinder, cooker, grinder, almirah , fan and steel utensils would be given to 300 people through lucky draw, and a special gift to all who attend the meeting. The pictures of the notice went viral.
With Assemble elections scheduled to be held next year, AIADMK’s invite made several netizens wonder if the party is fast losing its appeal and support base. In 2021, the AIADMK performed well in the Kongu region, especially suburban Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode districts.
AIADMK functionaries, however, denied the allegation. Former MLA S Gunasekaran said, “It’s not about attracting crowd. We are giving gifts to volunteers to celebrate Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) birthday. Everyone should understand that by doing this, the AIADMK is gearing up to face the Assembly elections. We presented gifts to volunteers during the recent public meeting held in Tiruppur South.”
Perundurai MLA S Jayakumar said the lucky draw has been conducted regularly all these years, and participants would be from special events that would be organised in connection with the meeting.