With the Congress allotted the Nanguneri Assembly seat, H. Vasantha Kumar, whose resignation as the MLA — following his election to Parliament from Kanniyakumari caused the bypoll to the constituency — was confident that his party candidate would win the seat.
He, however, said his elder brother Kumari Ananthan was unlikely to be the candidate in the constituency.
Asked whether the candidate to be fielded by the party would be as popular as himself, Mr. Vasantha Kumar said it was not an issue since he would be in the forefront of the campaign in the byelection.
“I will promise the people that the Congress candidate will continue to serve the constituency as I had done during my tenure. In fact, I have accomplished in three years what would have taken five years and have already published a book highlighting my achievements,” said Mr. Vasantha Kumar.
On Sunday, he attended a meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri to chalk out the strategy for the byelection.
Lists ‘achievements’
According to him, he ensured desilting of many waterbodies, implementation of linking of Tamirabarani-Karumeniyar rivers, donated furniture to schools, provided assistance to students and sponsored sportsmen. All these steps would work in favour of the Congress candidate.
Mr. Vasantha Kumar did not agree with the argument that voters normally prefer a ruling party candidate as they would be able to ensure development of the constituency.
The MP contended that people were aware that the AIADMK regime was bad. “Women are angry with the government because the State-run TASMAC shops were ruining families. The BJP government has antagonised the Muslims with its decision on triple talaq. Dalits are not able to get jobs. There is no employment and the youths have lost jobs. The state government cannot claim to have done anything,” he said.
Asked whether the Congress possessed the wherewithal to match the ruling party, he said 2,000 Congressmen would be pressed into action for election work.
“Partymen from Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram will come to do election work. All are our relatives,” he added.
