This tune is for votes...

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 18. Film actor and the DMK candidate for Villivakkam, Mr. Napoleon, does not believe in Dravidian-style marathon speeches. Instead, in filmi style, he woos the Villivakkam voters, singing a couple of Tamil hit numbers, with politically tailored lyrics.

At his election meeting at Ambattur today in which the former Union Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, was present, the villain- turned hero began saying: ``This is not the time for speech, but action''. Was he coming up with some stunts on the stage, a few in the crowd wondered.

But, Mr. Napoleon cleared his throat and began singing an A. R. Rehman number ``Athisayame Athisayam'', but conveniently changed the lyric to praise his ``athisaya Kalaignar'' (Chief Minister and DMK president Mr. M. Karunanidhi

And of course, Mr. Napoleon concluded with a hit song from his starrer - ``Seevalaperi Pandi.''

When the PMK leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss, launched his party's campaign in the Saidapet Assembly constituency today, there was an element of oddity.

He canvassed votes for his party in Saidapet, though the party had not yet announced the nominee. This constituency has been allotted to the PMK, which is in the AIADMK-led front.

Before Dr. Ramadoss reached Kaveri Nagar in Saidapet where he began his electioneering, speakers said the PMK leader would name the party's candidate for Saidapet. But, Dr. Ramadoss, at the end of his speech, said the nominee's name would be announced shortly.

(By Radha Venkatesan and T. Ramakrishnan)

Song for success

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Section  : Southern States
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