Campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls and Thattanchavady byelection in the Union Territory has gathered steam in the last two days with the main contenders, ruling Congress combine and principal Opposition All India N R Congress, conducting roadshows in Puducherry and Yanam regions.
While the ruling combine led by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and PCC Chief A. Namassivayam is gathering votes for Lok Sabha candidate V. Vaithilingam and DMK nominee for Thattanchavady byelection K.Venkatesan, AINRC Chief N. Rangasamy is leading from the front seeking votes for its Lok Sabha nominee K. Narayanasamy and Nedounzejiane for the byelection.
The Congress which had kicked off its campaign ahead of AINRC has now shifted its focus on door-to-door campaign, though Mr. Vaithilingam’s joint roadshows with Chief Minister, PCC chief and other leaders also formed its electoral strategy.
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On Wednesday, All India Congress Committee general secretary Sanjay Dutt took out a vehicle rally along with Mr. Vaithilingam and the Chief Minister in Nellithope area. Mr. Dutt also campaigned for Mr. Venkatesan, the DMK candidate for bypoll in Thattanchavady.
The Chief Minister in the last few days had been spending morning hours in his Nellithope Assembly constituency holding door-to-door campaign.
Sources in the party said PCC chief would launch an intensive campaign focusing mainly in rural Assembly segments in a few days.
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Mr. Rangasamy after launching Mr. Narayanasamy’s campaign four days ago from Kalapet had been holding continuous road shows mainly focusing on the town and suburban areas.
The former Chief Minister who had fielded his nephew in Thattanchavady was yet to campaign in the constituency. The constituency, a stronghold of AINRC, had been left to Mr. Rangasamy’s confidants and he would enter the campaign trail during the last few days, said a party functionary. Both the parties have finished campaigning in Yanam region.