Chennai: The election festival in the State began today with leaders of the AIADMK and DMK officially kickstarting their poll campaigns.
While Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, also the joint coordinator and coordinator of AIADMK, began their electioneering from Salem and Theni, respectively, DMK president M K Stalin started his canvassing from Tiruvarur.
Addressing a public rally in Salem, Palaniswami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the election campaign in the State and is expected to speak in capitals of four districts.
He further said BJP is the only party that can keep the country safe and it is important that the nation is under a strong leadership.
“AIADMK has forged alliance with the parties that have grown due to hardwork,” he said. He introduced AIADMK Salem candidate Saravanan during the meeting and said that the party works for the welfare of the people.
“If there are two different parties in the State and the Centre it will be difficult to implement development projects,” he added.
Meanwhile, Panneerselvam began his campaign today and sought votes for his son P Ravindranath Kumar who is contesting from Theni Parliamentary constituency.
Panneerselvam launched the campaign at Palamedu which is part of the Sholavandan Assembly constituency in Theni constituency.
Speaking to mediapersons, OPS said he found nothing wrong in his son contesting the elections. He argued that it cannot be equated with promoting dynasty politics as he said anyone was free to contest elections in a democracy.
Minister R B Udayakumar and MLAs S T K Jaggaiyan and Rajan Chellappa accompanied OPS and visited houses individually to seek votes.
Stalin began his campaign for the upcoming general elections and by-elections from Tiruvarur this morning. After paying tributes to his paternal grandmother and father M Karunandhi’s mother Anjugam at their Tiruvarur residence on Sannidhi Street, he launched the campaign by canvassing for Poondi Kalaivanan, the DMK candidate for the Assembly seat.
The by-election to Tiruvarur constituency was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA and five-time Chief Minister M Karunanidhi last year. Stalin also inaugurated the party’s election office in the constituency. He said since Tiruvarur is the birth place of Karunanidhi it will be the capital of DMK.
| How much biriyani costs? |
| The Election Commission of India has fixed rates of 208 products that the political parties use during the election. The ECI said the rate of Mutton Biriyani is Rs 200, Chicken Biriyani Rs 180, morning breakfast Rs 100, water bottle Rs 20, Tea Rs 10, Milk Rs 15, Tender Coconut Rs 40, Saree Rs 200 and T shirt Rs 175. It has also asked political parties not to hold public meetings during the day. The advice is said to have been given after reports of several deaths during the meetings held during the day due to summer heat. |