Keeping in mind that Thursday was both Tamil New Year’s Day and B.R. Amebdkar’s 125th birth anniversary, two-time Chief Minister and Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam had his campaign strategically chalked out for the day.
The Minister, who is yet to begin door-to-door campaign, chose to visit temples where crowds thronged and Dalit colonies dotting this constituency, nestled along the foothills of the Western Ghats in Theni district.
His first stop is at Aranmanaipudhur village. Stepping out of the car, Mr. Panneerselvam garlands the Ambedkar statue in the Dalit colony. Elected from the same constituency in 2011 election, he knows that Dalit votes are critical to his electoral fate this time.
Mr. Panneerselvam is a Maravar, a sub-caste of the politically influential Thevar community that is often in confrontation with Dalits. Apart from Maravars and Dalits, Chettiyars and Naickers/Naidus constitute majority of the electorate. As the Minister’s opponent — S. Lakshmanan of the DMK — is a Chettiyar, the Minister needs Dalit votes badly, say party functionaries accompanying him.
Walking into the colony, the Minister interacts with the locals, telling them all about what he has done for Dalit colonies in the last five years.
Temples are the next stop. He visits a few of them, teeming with devotees visiting the shrines to celebrate the Tamil New Year. People readily recognise the son of the soil. “He is visibly dull,” says a local.
Of late, there were rumours that he might not contest from here after being reportedly sidelined by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. But they turned out to be just that — rumours.
As his car proceeds towards the next village, he stops again to garland an Ambedkar statue, and takes part in the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at Duraisamypuram colony.
At a meeting with villagers, he tells them how the government’s pro-poor welfare schemes, such as free goats, cattle and gold for ‘thaali’, has benefited thousands.
“Winning confidence of rural communities is very important for the AIADMK as Bodi town is the stronghold of DMK,” says a second-rung leader.
Subbiah, sitting at a road-side tea shop, openly praises Mr. Paneerselvam’s humility. A few others note that the cheerfulness of ‘Paneer Annan’ was missing. In the colonies, as Mr. Panneerselvam walks, he is closely followed by his personal security.
Other party men are four to five steps behind — either not wanting to identify themselves as his close associates or as a mark of respect to the former Chief Minister. They don’t want to discuss the reason.
What is the best work that the Minister has done? A bridge across the Mulla Periyar River near Koozhiyanur say people. Mr. Pannerselvam also helms the PWD Ministry. “The extension of 18th channel is a boon to farmers in rain fed areas as it connects Periyar, Kottakudi and Vaigai rivers ensuring single crop,” says A. Subburaj in Bodi.
At Bodi town, a large gathering of the Pillai community presents him with shawls and garlands. “In my constituency, an engineering college, arts college and polytechnic have been started in the past five years.
Recalling the good work done by the Chief Minister is enough to win over the hearts of voters,” the Minister tells The Hindu before concluding the day’s campaign with visits to two more temples.
