Work for AIADMK's win in civic polls, Jayalalithaa tells party workers

Chennai: Asserting that scores of people were joining her party impressed by her government's welfare measures, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday welcomed nearly one lakh new entrants and exhorted them to work for its victory in coming civic polls.

Each and every person who worked for the people had a great future in public life, she said at a function in Chennai where a total of 91,308 persons from various parties, including DMK, DMDK, TMC, BJP and Congress, joined AIADMK.

"There is no party parallel to AIADMK in giving opportunities for dedicated workers at the appropriate time," she told the new entrants. The party would be a great political training ground for them, she added.

"Scores of people continue to join the AIADMK after seeing and benefiting from the welfare initiatives of the government," Jayalalithaa said.

Without naming Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, she said, "You would have read in newspapers that a state in north India has taken steps to launch canteens on the lines of Amma Unavagam."

She said such welfare initiatives of her government were being discussed all over the country and being emulated in other parts of the country as well as in other countries.

The low-cost Amma canteens offer one idli at Re 1, pongal and sambar-rice for Rs 5, curd rice for Rs 3, and chappati with dal for Rs 3.

In the past, representatives of several states, including Gujarat and countries like Egypt, had visited the canteens and evinced keen interest in launching similar schemes back home.

The six-time Chief Minister said she was keen on implementing a host of other welfare measures for the people and asked the new entrants to do exemplary work for the people and wished them a "bright future".

"While taking you all on board the party with love, I urge you to work for a great victory for the AIADMK in the upcoming local body elections," she said.

Local body elections in the state are due next month. Former Mayor of Tiruchirappalli, Sarubala R Tondaiman, who had recently quit the GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress, was among the prominent leaders who joined the AIADMK on Wednesday.

Party flags, festoons, flex banners welcomed Jayalalithaa to the venue of the function -- YMCA grounds – and traditional dance forms like 'Mayilattam' and 'Oyilattam' were performed to the accompaniment of 'chendamelam' and 'nadaswaram'.