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NT Bureau
Chennai, Feb 11:

ACTION STARTS: DMDK'S Vijaykanth and Congress's Vishnu Prasad campaigning for their party candidates in the city today. Photos: T Shankaran and B Anand

        The so far lacklusture campaign to the bypolls for 67 wards of the Chennai Corporation has started gathering momentum with major political parties kickstarting their poll campaign by bringing in top leaders to seek votes.

        In the final battle to win power, DMK president and Chief Minister M Karuanidhi and several senior ministers including Arcot N Veerasamy besides a galaxy of former tinsel stars like Bagyaraj, Chandrasekhar, Thiyagu and Kumarimuthu are likely to seek votes for Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) candidates, in the coming week, sources said here today.

        Meanwhile, the DMDK and Congress formally began their campaign here today. The candidates belonging to the BJP and the DMK were also seen on the streets since early this morning to win votes.

        The DMDK founder leader Vijayakanth who began by introducing his party candidates in a public meeting here yesterday, started his campaign from lighthouse area in south Chennai here. The macho actor made fervent pleas to cast votes in favour of their candidates in 8 wards including places like Nochikuppam, Dumingkuppam and Ambedkar bridge.

        The campaign of the 'captain' was marked by his unique style of 'give us a chance' who was flocked by hundreds of cadres in his campaign route. Vijayakanth is also scheduled to seek votes in Adyar, Besant Nagar and Sastri Nagar besides Tiruvanmiyur, Taramani and Velacheri in south Chennai today. The rising politician would also campaign in all the wards that goes to polls on 18 February in the coming days.

        Tamilnadu Congress Committee President M Krishnaswamy's son and MLA, MK Vishnuprasad campaigned in south Chennai areas flanked by former deputy Mayor Karate Thiagarajan.

        The cadres and second rung leaders of the BJP, meanwhile, started their campaign in an unobtrusive fashion by moving in a group of two to four people and went on a door to door campaing and sought votes by promising a transparent style of functioning sans corruption.

        The absense of the main opposition AIADMK and its ally the MDMK from the byelections contributed to fewer road corner meetings and frenzied campaign. However, the campagin has now gathered speed as just eight days are left for polls.

        It may be recalled that out of the 100 wards that were slated for bypolls, 33 councillors were elected unopposed and the rest goes to polls on 18 February.