Chennai: Political parties have stepped up their campaigns for the Oct 6 bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly seats, with senior leaders of TVK, DMK and AIADMK set to hit the campaign trail soon.Chief minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to campaign for two days in each constituency. “The dates are yet to be finalised,” said a senior TVK functionary who is also an election observer.Party leaders K A Sengottaiyan and K G Arunraj, along with other functionaries, are stationed in the constituencies, holding meetings with party workers and coordinating the campaign. Leaders and workers of the DMK, TVK, AIADMK, NTK and CPI have also begun door-to-door campaigning.AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has planned to campaign in Madurantakam on Sept 24, 25 and Oct 3, and in Dharapuram on Sept 27, 28 and Oct 2. Palaniswami has assigned more than 30 former ministers and senior functionaries to the two constituencies to campaign.DMK’s candidates I Paranthamen and S Suganya have commenced campaigning, while party president M K Stalin is likely to visit the constituencies soon. DMK has appointed former ministers K N Nehru, V Senthilbalaji, M P Saminathan and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi as election in-charges.Nehru, who has been camping in Dharapuram and overseeing election work, told DMK functionaries to divide the constituency into different zones and reach out to voters. After the meeting, Nehru and Saminathan told reporters that people would reject the TVK candidates as they had resigned their MLA posts within 15 days of winning the election to join TVK. “People will back DMK this time,” Nehru said.
Campaigning for the Dharapuram by-election is heating up, with DMK and TVK leaders actively canvassing votes. DMK in-charge for the Dharapuram reserved constituency K N Nehru is overseeing operations on the ground, while TVK ministers K A Sengottaiyan, K G Arunraj, and MLA Kamali are rallying cadres
As part of the TVK campaign, handlooms and textiles minister M Vijay Balaji canvassed support for party candidate V Sathyabama by distributing pamphlets to members of the Muslim community in front of Sultanpuriya mosque in Dharapuram. Community members welcomed the minister and honoured him with a shawl.The bypolls have turned out to be a litmus test for TVK and its newly formed alliance with Congress, VCK and IUML. The Left parties, which are extending outside support to TVK govt, have fielded their own candidates, adding another dimension to the election. Left party functionaries and NTK cadres too have commenced campaigning, making it a five-cornered contest.“Irrespective of the opponents, our CM’s popularity will ensure us a handsome victory,” said a TVK functionary.
