Photographs: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com A Ganesh Nadar in Tuticorin
A Ganesh Nadar catches up with Jayalalithaa on her campaign trail.
In the run-up to the assembly election in Tamil Nadu on April 13, major political leaders are criss-crossing the state at a blistering pace to garner votes.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalithaa held her first election meeting in Anna Nagar in Tuticorin.
Anna Nagar in Tuticorin is named after C N Annadurai, the first non-Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief minister of Tamil Nadu. When actor-politician M G Ramachandran broke away from the DMK, he named his party Anna-DMK. So, no surprises why Jayalalithaa chose to start her campaign from the region.
There was tight police bandobast in the area. People who had turned up to hear her speak were advised to leave their vehicles in the sidelanes and walk to the venue.
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The highlight was a special song written for Jayalalithaa
On stage, playing out under the hot sun, was an orchestra group singing songs from old MGR movies.
The highlight was a special song written for Jayalalithaa, which hailed her as a revolutionary leader of Tamil Nadu; as the mother of all its people.
The buzz at the venue was evident -- repeated announcements were being made about 'Amma' arriving at the venue at any moment, water melon stalls near the venue cashed in on the massive turnout, policemen were kept on their toes by supporters keen on catching a glimpse of their leader as she arrived.
Jayalalthaa's seat slowly rose from the van...
An approving roar went up from the public as Jayalalithaa's van arrived soon enough with her sitting in the front seat waving out to her supporters.
The top of her van opened up, Jayalalthaa's seat slowly rose from the van and the crowd went berserk at glimpsing her.
In the meantime, the orchestra handed the stage over to the candidates from the six assembly constituencies in Tuticorin -- five were from the AIADMK and one was from the party's ally, the Puthiya Tamizhagam.
The Puthiya Tamizhagam candidate was party president Dr K Krishnasamy.
'How are you going to stop such anti-national activities?'
Claiming there was rampant rowdyism, sand smuggling and power cuts during Karunanidhi's rule, she pleaded with the people to rescue Tamil Nadu from the DMK family.
Raking up the 2G spectrum scam, the AIADMK chief said the scandal had cost the country Rs 1.8 lakh crore. "How are you going to stop such anti-national activities?" she asked the gathering.
"First they distributed TV sets worth Rs 2,000 with public money. Then they earned Rs 1,000 per year as cable fees. All this even as the state accumulated debts of Rs 1 lakh crore. During the independence movement, we fought the British. Now let us fight the second war of independence against Karunanidhi's family," she said taking potshots at the ruling party.
'In one generation, they have become Kuberans'
"Imagine the wealth of the other family members. The entire family must be the richest in the world," she declared, adding, "With their ministers in the central and state government they have earned more than any other family in the world."
"Tamil Nadu is behind all other states in progress because here only one family grows. In one generation, they have become Kuberans (Kuber, the Hindu god of wealth). This election is your golden opportunity to stop this," she thundered to applause.
"Will you make the DMK lose their election deposit?" she asked the gathering.
The reply was instant: "Yes!"
'Four goats for every family...'
She also doled out extra incentives (other than the ones already mentioned the AIADMK manifesto).
"Four goats for every family living below the poverty line and subsidies for farmers who opted for the drip irrigation system."
Later, having introduced the six candidates from Tuticorin, she signed off with, "Anna naamam vaazhga, MGR naamam vaazhga (Let Anna's name endure, let MGR's name endure)."
Jayalalithaa then headed for her next meeting.
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