Work for welfare of the poor: Jayalalithaa tells Karunanidhi

Chennai, 23 March, (Asiantribune.com): All India Anna D M K General Secretary and the former Chief Minister Ms J. Jayalalithaa has urged the Chief Minister Karunanidhi to work for welfare of the poor in the state instead of cheating them with falls promises.

Electioneering for the Pennagaram Assembly by-election, scheduled for March 27 gained momentum with Jayalalithaa hitting the campaign trail on Monday.

Ms Jayalalithaa further assuring that she would implement the Hogenekkal Integrated Water Supply scheme on a war footing on coming to power next year.

The AIADMK leader, who began her two-day campaign, launched a tirade against the DMK government for failing to provide even the basic facilities in the backward Pennagaram despite being in power for the last four years.

Stating that Cauvery begins its journey in this district before traversing to the delta districts down south of the state, the AIADMK leader said despite this, the threat of drought loomed large on this district.

Rice and sugarcane were cultivated in this district in large acres of area. But during the last four years, nothing had been growing in the district, she alleged.

Alleging that the ruling DMK was distributing money to voters, Ms Jayalalithaa told the voters to accept the money as it was theirs, but cast their votes in favor of the AIADMK candidate Anbazhagan in "Two Leaf" symbol.

Ms Jayalalithaa also alleged that the ruling DMK was trying to buy the voters and exhorted them to teach the party a fitting lesson in the by-election.

The State Deputy Chief Minister and the DMK party treasure Mr Stalin also started his campaign on Monday, who flayed Ms Jayalalithaa for criticising the DMK government on the Hogenekkal issue even though the government had launched the project after arranging financial assistance from a Japanese bank.

Stalin accused the AIADMK leader of launching a disinformation campaign on the water supply project. The voters should be wary of Ms Jayalalithaa as she comes to meet them only during elections, he charged.
The Actor turned politician Vijaya Kanth also kick started his campaign on Monday.

The Chief Minister Karunanidhi is scheduled to address an election meeting on March 24 at Pennagaram.

Meanwhile the State Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta chaired a meeting with officials in Pennagaram and discussed complaints of distribution of money to the voters and violation of poll code.

Expressing regret that the authorities could not prevent distribution of money, Mr Gupta admitted that conducting a by poll in a free and fair manner has become a challenge these days.

- Asian Tribune -