INDIA bloc will sweep Tamil Nadu, Puducherry: Vaiko
Campaigning by Modi, who visited T.N. nine times ahead of the elections but not even once during natural calamites, will not succeed, he says
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko said on Monday that the BJP’s Lok Sabha election manifesto would not succeed in Tamil Nadu and expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc, of which his party is a constituent, would win in all 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Mr. Vaiko, who addressed the mediapersons in Erode on Monday, earlier paid tributes to the portrait of Erode MP and senior MDMK leader A. Ganesamoorthy, who died on March 28.
Mr. Vaiko also offered his condolences to the family at their residence at Periyar Nagar.
Mr. Vaiko said the BJP had promised to establish Tiruvalluvar cultural centres across the globe, saying that Tamil, the world’s oldest language, was its pride and it would try to enhance the global reputation of the language.
“This is a new test run [for them] and they won’t succeed,” he said, adding that the BJP’s manifesto would not succeed in the State.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, had failed to visit Tamil Nadu in times of natural calamities, but visited the State nine times of late in an attempt to win the elections. “It will remain a dream,” he said, referring to the BJP’s attempts to win in the State. The Union Ministers visiting the State for campaign would not make any difference either.
Mr. Vaiko urged the Election Commission to take action against BJP State president and Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency candidate K. Annamalai for allegedly seeking votes after 10 p.m.
With two more days left for the election campaigning to conclude, workers of political parties are canvassing for votes without break under scorching sun. As the Lok Sabha poll was scheduled for Tamil Nadu in the first phase, the election campaign also started after Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK and the BJP announced their candidates in the third week of March.
Over 100 people accompany each candidate during the campaign. As temperature rose in Salem from the second week of March, the candidates preferred campaigning between 8 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
But from Monday, the campaign started from 8 a.m. to night, except for one hour lunch break between 1.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m.
A. Chandrasekar, a resident of Mecheri campaigning for AIADMK, said this year the temperature was very high. Cadres, who were coming with candidates, were unable to canvass votes during the afternoon. Considering their health, watermelon, water, or lemon juice is being given to them regularly during campaigning. The temperature forced many cadres, aged between 50 and 70, to stay at home.
Similarly, party functionaries were also instructed not to bring elderly people for the canvassing of votes. “From Monday to Wednesday (the last day for the campaign), we will not waste time and will canvass in the permitted time fully,” Mr. Chan