Campaign begins, TN top guns start firing

Top guns of Tamil Nadu political parties have launched campaigns for the Lok Sabha election. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched at Salem while his deputy O. Panneerselvam began the Anna DMK campaign from his home turf Theni.

DMK president MK Stalin chose his late father M. Karunanidhi’s constituency Tiruvarur, where a bypoll takes place to the state assembly ater the death of the DMK patriarch.

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 said the BJP is the only party that can keep the country safe and it is important that the nation is under a strong leadership.

“ADMK has forged alliance with the parties that have grown due to hardwork,” he said, and introduced ADMK Salem candidate Saravanan during the meeting.

“We work for the welfare of the people,” he said. “If there are two different parties in the State and the Centre it will be difficult to implement development projects.” Panneerselvam began his campaign and sought votes for his son P.

Ravindranath Kumar who is contesting from Theni Lok Sabha constituency. Panneerselvam launched the campaign at Palamedu which is part of the Sholavandan Assembly constituency in Theni constituency.

Speaking to mediapersons, he 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 RB Udayakumar and MLAS S T K Jaggaiyan and Rajan Chellappa accompanied him as he visited houses to seek votes.

Stalin began his campaign for the general elections and by-elections from Tiruvarur on Wednesday morning. Ater 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.

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.

The Election Commission of India has, meanwhile, fixed rates of 208 products that the political parties use during the election.