The Hindu Business Line : DMK’s central leaders harp on Tamil Nadu programmes

Chennai: The thrust of three Union Ministers and a former Union Minister belonging to the DMK during the election campaign was on the various welfare schemes announced by the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu.

The four — Mr T. R. Baalu (Surface Transport Minister), Mr A. Raja (Communications), Mr S. S. Palanimanickam (Minister of State for Finance) and Mr Dayanidhi Maran (former Communications Minister) — banked heavily on the well-oiled DMK machinery to canvass for votes, apart from highlighting their own contributions.

Mr Dayanidhi Maran

During their campaign, the DMK candidates focussed on the State Government’s programmes — rice at Re 1 a kg, free colour TV sets, and free LPG cylinder and stove schemes — to underline the fact that the DMK was a party that worked for the welfare of the masses.

Flyovers and Bridges

Mr Baalu is seeking re-election from Sriperumbudur, having shifted from Chennai South, after the delimitation. The Sriperumbudur constituency includes Maduravoyal, Ambattur, Alandur, Sriperumbudur (SC), Pallavaram and Tambaram assembly segments. Mr Baalu is hoping the numerous flyover and bridge/subway projects he initiated or completed in these areas will stand him in good stead. Mr Baalu lists among his achievements the various flyover and bridge works in Chennai, particularly the grade separator at the Kathipara junction, a major entry point to the city from the airport and the national highway to Bangalore as also the south. He is pitted against Mr A. K. Moorthy of the Pattali Makkal Katchi.

telecom revolution

Mr Dayanidhi Maran, who was the Communications Minister from May 26, 2004 to May 13, 2007, is seeking re-election from Chennai Central, from where he entered the Lok Sabha in 2004. The profile of this constituency has changed post the delimitation. It now covers Villivakkam, Egmore (SC), Harbour, Chepauk-Triplicane, Thousand Lights and Anna Nagar. He is pitted against Mr S. M. K. Mogamed Ali Jinnah of the AIADMK. Mr Maran makes it a point to highlight the revolution he ushered in telecommunications, especially the mobile telephony sector by having a uniform Re 1 tariff across the country.

Mr A. Raja

Mr Raja, who succeeded Mr Dayanidhi Maran as the Communications Minister, has changed his constituency from Perambalur (SC) to the Nilgiris, which is now a reserved constituency. Mr Raja points to the further reduction in mobile tariffs to 50 paise a minute and also the Centre’s quick decision-making that is helping usher in 3G mobile services. His main opponent is Mr C. Krishnan of the MDMK.

Mr S.S. Palanimanickam

Mr Palanimanickam, who maintained a comparatively low profile, is up against Mr Durai Balakrishnan of the MDMK.

A total of 824 candidates are in the fray for 39 seats, with the DMK-led front and the AIADMK-led alliance being the main contestants. The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam of actor Vijaykant is contesting all the seats on its own.