T. Rajender finds the goings tough

By T.S. Shankar

CHENNAI, MAY 4. Park Town's sitting MLA, Mr.T. Rajender insists that he has no make-up on, when he approaches the voters seeking re-election, a metaphor for his policy of transparency.

The electorate of this commercially vibrant area - 74,617 men and 65,527 women- would decide on poll day, as they consider the claims of Mr.Rajender and his rivals, Mr.S.G. Vinayagamurthi (TMC) and Mr.G. Nanmaran (MDMK). Some voters are so unhappy that they refused entry to Mr. Rajender to their division.

The issues that are being raised are; water scarcity, sewerage, and the public health scenario, with an equally strong emphasis on extortion of traders by hoodlums, which has been commonly witnessed in the city's commercial area.

Against this backdrop, the 44-year-old, actor-director-lyricist- cameraman-musician-singer-writer and MLA, Mr.T. Rajender, is at pains to tell the electorate that he has nothing to hide. ``Nobody can point an accusing finger at me about any irregularities or misdeeds'', he claims.

He reels out a list of ``achievements.'' A Rs.35-lakh bus terminus at Broadway, a Rs.15 lakh medical aid centre at the 45th division, a playground at Kesava Pillai Park, and public conveniences for women and men at various divisions including 43, and 44, repairs to inner roads, many of which were concretised, extension of the Anna Marumalarchi Thittam, and launch of desilting of Otteri Nullah.

As Mr. Rajender would have it, he is in touch with all Ministers concerned, over the problems.

So what does the TMC candidate, Mr.S.G. Vinayagamurthi, who has faced bigger rivals in the past, have to say? ``My chances are bright and the constituents are looking for a change''.

His attack on the DMK MLA is centred on poor performance. Nothing ``constructive and tangible'' has been done he says, promising to open a full-fledged office at Park Town to redress grievances.

As proof of his opponent's ``unpopularity'', the 71-year-old TMC vice-president says Mr.Rajender could not gain entry into the 45th division.

Besides promising to alleviate the sufferings of women especially those living on the pavements and in slum dwellings, Mr.Vinayagamurthi lamented that there had been no effective policing, especially on complaints of extortion from traders.

Replying to the TMC candidate's accusations, Mr. Rajender admitted that he was not allowed entry into the division. But he claims ``the demonstration was stage-managed by the opposition party''.

Caught between the two parties, the 39-year-old, Mr.G. Nanmaran has launched a door-to-door campaign.

A practicing advocate in Madras High Court and having worked as a Central Government standing counsel at the Central Administrative Tribunal, Mr.Nanmaran feels that the people are a frustrated lot after seeing both the DMK and the AIADMK regimes. The third option is presented by the MDMK this time.

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