Tiruchy West ends, civic poll campaign begins

TIRUCHY: The campaign for Tiruchy West by-poll, scheduled for October 13, came to a close on Tuesday with both the AIADMK and DMK functionaries utilising the period with street meetings and door-to-door campaign.  DMK cadre who were expecting KN Nehru to campaign for a few hours on the last day were disappointed, as the former minister decided to stay away from the campaign.  DMK treasurer Stalin stayed till evening and campaigned around the city for Nehru.  Top leaders including Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK president M Karunanidhi had campaigned for their candidates on 9 and 10 October.  While Jayalalithaa has toured around the constituency in her campaign vehicle and sought votes listing her government’s performance in the last five months and justifying the action on DMK ministers saying that the guilty were being punished.  Karunanidhi, who spoke in a public meeting, replied to a few charges of the Chief Minister, while reiterating the DMK was a party working for the welfare of Tamils and asking people’s support.  While, women thronged Jayalalithaa’s campaign venues, the DMK leader’s meeting was mostly by partymen, who did not look enthusiastic or attentive.  Compared to the multitudes which greeted the Chief Minister, the attendance to DMK chief’s meeting was below expectations. Stalin, who toured around the constituency, for several days, played the minority chord, alleging that Jayalalithaa was a supporter of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.  AIADMK is contesting alone, while the DMK has the support of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and covert backing of the Puthiya Thamizhagam.  The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, a popular Muslim outfit, which was part of the AIADMK front, is not supporting the AIADMK in this election.  The Left parties, DMDK and MDMK have not announced support for any party.  The AIADMK candidate and former minister Mariyampitchai won from the constituency in the Assembly elections and the election was necessitated following his death in a car accident, even before he took oath as an MLA.  Former DMK minister KN Nehru, who lost the Assembly elections by about 7,000 votes was contesting against AIADMK’s former MLA M Paranjothi.