“Victory is certain, we are only interested to know what the margin will be” is how a DMK worker described the prospects of Dalapathi (commander) or deputy chief minister MK Stalin.
The epithet ‘commander’ is appropriate for Stalin, who is poised not just to take over the leadership of the DMK from his father and chief minister M Karunanidhi. He will inherit a political legacy that goes back to the time of EV Ramaswami Naicker.
Kolattur, the constituency Stalin is contesting from, is new and located in north Chennai and he is being made to work hard by AIADMK candidate Saidi Duraisamy.
It was from the area that now constitutes this constituency that DMK candidate and spokesperson TKS Elangovan got an unassailable lead during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Elangovan had polled some 25,000 votes from this segment, which is one of the reasons behind Stalin opting to shift from central Chennai’s Thousand Lights constituency, which he represented six times.
Unlike Duraisamy, who can spend his entire time campaigning, Stalin could devote only a day to this after filing his nomination papers.
{{/usCountry}}Unlike Duraisamy, who can spend his entire time campaigning, Stalin could devote only a day to this after filing his nomination papers.
{{/usCountry}}But his wife, Durgavati, has taken the plunge to seek votes on his behalf and is drawing good crowd.
“I am aware of all the problems of Kolattur and will address them on priority,” Stalin said while campaigning in the constituency on Wednesday.
Stalin said that over and above the manifesto promises of free mixie or grinder, the people could look forward to washing machines and refrigerators.
However, Duraisamy is confident. “If free and fair polls are held, the public vote will be for the AIADMK,” he says.