Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Jayalalithaa harps on son of the soil theme

By R. Rajaram

The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, campaigning from a van at Periatalai fishermen village in the Sattankulam constituency on Wednesday. — Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

TUTICORIN FEB. 19. Harping on the same theme for the third successive day, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today campaigned in remote villages of the Sattankulam Assembly constituency seeking voter support for the party candidate, L. Neelamegavarnam.

It was a routine affair and nothing was new in the campaign speech. The Chief Minister kept saying Sattankulam too could emerge as a `model' constituency if only the electorate ensured an AIADMK victory in the February 26 byelection.

Kicking off her campaign at Sithankudiyiruppu, the Chief Minister kept repeating that the late Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, or she had sought votes for allies and not for a party candidate till now in the constituency. This was the first time she was seeking votes in support of the AIADMK nominee.

Sattankulam had remained a neglected constituency for long. The time had now come to solve the problems faced by the people, she said.

The candidate being a son-of-the-soil was another aspect the Chief Minister kept repeating. The people's representative elected till now did not belong to Sattankulam. ``I have come here seeking support for a candidate who is the son of the soil'', she said amid applause in many areas.

Though it was routine, her speech evoked good response in many places, with the locals cheering the Chief Minister when she assured them that ``Sattankulam would become Devankulam'' if the AIADMK was elected.

At Periatalai, only coastal village in the constituency dominated by Christians, Ms. Jayalalithaa was given a rousing reception. Women outnumbered men in several places to have a glimpse of the Chief Minister. Women with ``poornakumbam'' lined up in many places to welcome her. Some used the opportunity to submit petitions and representations. A few women seized on the occasion to have their children christened by ``Amma''.

The party functionaries did everything to keep alive the areas, where their party supremo covered, by organising light music near roadsides. Good old MGR numbers were played.

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