Campaign hots up in RK Nagar; DMK going all out to wrest seat

Chennai: Ruling AIADMK led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK are locked in a fierce contest in the RK Nagar Assembly constituency here, which goes to the bypoll on December 21 amid charges of cash distribution for votes. As voting day nears, both AIADMK and DMK have stepped up the campaign.

DMK is going all out to wrest the seat from its arch rival after over two decades, with party working chief M K Stalin addressing a series of meetings on Sunday .

Accusing the ruling AIADMK of corruption, including the 'Gutkha scam,' Stalin sought a decisive victory for the DMK, which, he said, would be a marker for a regime change. AIADMK is also leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat.

Chief Minister Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and Ministers are criss crossing congested lanes and by lanes to retain the seat won by Jayalalithaa last year for the second consecutive time.

AIADMK is primarily seeking votes to continue the welfare schemes launched by Jayalalithaa.

Palaniswami has also urged voters to elect party nominee Madhusudhanan, assuring houses for the downtrodden.

At the same time, AIADMK sidelined group, led by T T V Dhinakaran,is trying hard to prove to his rivals in mainstream AIADMK that he is the heir to Jayalalithaa's welfare legacy.

Dhinakaran, nephew of jailed leader V K Sasikala and contesting as an independent, is campaigning with vigour.

Bereft of the party flag and the popular two-leaves symbol, the pressure cooker now occupies pride of place in his campaign, with flags featuring it in the middle.

The former MP's (both lower and upper houses) supporters use a flag with a black stripe on top, white in middle and an embossing of cooker over it and red in bottom to canvass.

BJP is also in the fray with senior State functionary Karu Nagarajan named as candidate.

Women supporters of parties lining up the streets with 'aarthi' to welcome candidates and showering flowers on them have become a routine feature now.

Madusudanan, ruling AIADMK candidate, is also banking on his popularity in North Chennai, besides his party's strength.