Did someone say this was a DMK bastion? As I strolled around, waiting for the action to begin, an old woman (Neela) walked up to me and started her tirade against the DMK.

"I have been living here for 80 years. In my entire life I have not seen an honest politician. I have voted for both Udaya Sooryan (rising sun, the DMK symbol) and Irattai Ilai (two leaves, the AIADMK symbol). But nobody has helped us in any way. When elections are announced, they come with folded hands, and then disappear. I am going to vote for Amma (Jayalalithaa) this time. She has done so much for the poor. Did you see the temple on the way? There is anna daanam (free food) at the temple for the poor. I have my food there every day. Who has done anything like this before?"

Soon, she was joined by a group of women lead by Gandhimathy, another angry woman. "Do you know Murasoli Maran never even came to thank us after he won? I have voted for the DMK earlier but for the last few years I am a big supporter of Amma. She has done a lot for us. There were no water taps here, there was no toilet. Now you see the number of taps over here. And just because she is a woman, she is being persecuted by all these men."

When the crowd of women saw the camera, all they wanted was to be photographed as they yelled Irattai Ilai. And, all this was going on right under the nose of DMK workers who pretended not to see or hear anything.

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