Modi rule will bring water and electricity: Premalatha Vijayakant

DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakant addressing an election campaign at Kottampatti in Madurai district on Sunday. Photo: R. Ashok

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Premalatha Vijayakant has appealed to the electorate to vote for the National Democratic Alliance and assured them that a Central government with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister would end the water and electricity problems in the State.

She was campaigning for DMDK’s Madurai Lok Sabha candidate D. Sivamuthukumar at Kottampatti on Sunday evening. “As Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Modi has showed the model to develop infrastructure. Bhuj, which was nearly destroyed in the 2001 earthquake, has become a hub of development now, whereas the AIADMK government has done little to re-build houses and buildings destroyed by tsunami in Tamil Nadu,” she said, and dismissed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s claims that Tamil Nadu was more developed than Gujarat.

“What is the use of the AIADMK government implementing welfare schemes such as ‘Thalikku Thangam’ for women when men in the family are falling prey to alcohol addiction?,” she asked. “The assets case and various charges against Ms. Jayalalithaa show the levels of corruption in the AIADMK, and DMK chief Karunanidhi keeps talking against corruption though he has tainted A. Raja by his side,” she said.

Priority for farmers

Ms. Premalatha said her party would give priority to solving issues related to farmers. “Since this place is known for coconut cultivation, we will give first priority to issues related to power and water, the shortage of which have crippled farmers,” she said. “While water from the Vaigai reaches only till Karungalakudi, we will ensure that it reached Kottampatti,” she told the gathering.

She alleged that Minister for Cooperation Sellur K. Raju had done little to improve infrastructure in the district.

Reacting to Ms. Jayalalithaa’s statement that DMDK chief Vijayakant was having an erratic campaign schedule, Ms. Premalatha said the DMDK chief had toured every district and had taken a break of only three days owing to malfunctioning of his campaign vehicle and a minor health issue.

“However, since March 3 when she began her campaign, Ms. Jayalalithaa has not campaigned for almost 18 days,” she claimed. “Vijayakant has covered over 5,500 km by road and has spoken in over 100 places,” she said.