M K Stalin campaigns in Kolathur, seeks votes on performance

Chennai: DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on Wednesday campaigned in his constituency Kolathur and promised to solve all problems, while listing problems he had solved and how he had been in touch with people for the last five years.

He began his election campaign in Kolathur immediately after filing his nomination papers and went through several streets of the constituency in the evening. He stopped his vehicle at several places to address the residents and seek their support.

Recalling his victory in the 2011 Assembly elections, Stalin said he wanted to utilise the constituency development fund and allocated all the Rs 10 crore for various schemes in the constituency. But, the ruling party deliberately delayed the projects and schemes worth only Rs 5 crore were completed.

He alleged that the ruling party is trying to win the Assembly elections by giving cash to voters in all the 234 constituencies and asserted that the DMK’s victory could not be stopped by money power this time.

Addressing party cadre after filing his nomination papers at Ayanavaram zonal office here, Stalin said there were reports of money seizure from several parts of the state.

Describing the seizure as a tip of the iceberg, he said a large amount of money had not been seized. Even if money is given to voters, the tactics of the ruling party would not succeed with the DMK this time as democracy could not be defeated by money power.

Later, addressing the public from his vehicle, he said, “Throughout the five years, I was with you. I was in touch with you through programmes like ‘Pesalam vaanga’, from which I got the idea for ‘Namakku Naamey’, his state wide campaign programme. I will not say that I have done everything for the constituency. I was not able to do everything I wanted as I was in the Opposition.

I am sure to win from the constituency and will expedite all the schemes and projects. Coming to Kolathur is like returning to own house. We can eat in star hotels. But, it is nothing like taking curd rice and pickle in my own house. Kolathur gives such a feeling to me,” he said and sought votes for good governance.

At most of the meeting spots, he listed the grievances in the petitions given to him during his visits to the constituency and mentioned the works done to solve those grievances.

He said several demands for drinking water, drainage, road facilities and electricity had been met and listed the problems that remained unsolved, promising to take them up if he was elected again.

Stalin promised permanent solution to drinking water woes, drainage and sewage overflowing problems and assured to meet demands for libraries and gymnasiums. At some of the places like Paper Mills Road, he got down from the vehicle and spoke to the traders and passers-by, seeking votes for the ‘rising sun’.