Coimbatore: The ruling AIADMK kickstarted its campaign for the mayoral polls with a sharp jibe at former mayor S.M.Velusamy and special prayers for Lord Ganapathy.
The fortnight-long campaign kicked off to an auspicious start at Sri Iyyasamy Akshaya Ganapathy temple on Edayar street in Town Hall. Mayoral candidate P.Rajkumar, rural development minister S.P.Velumani, MLA Challenger Durai and deputy mayor Leelavathy Unni took part in a special pooja, before they hit the campaign trail for the mayoral elections scheduled for September 18.
Launching the campaign, minister Velumani delivered an unmistakable punch at former mayor S.M.Velusamy who was asked to resign following allegations against him. "The AIADMK leadership will not spare anyone who failed to work for people," the minister said. The party leadership would ensure that mayoral candidate P.Rajkumar delivered on his promises. AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa would not tolerate misconduct, indiscipline and indifference to public cause. "None, including me, will be spared of punishment if there is a slip in our functioning," the minister said.
Velumani quickly added that P. Rajkumar would discharge his duties towards people of the city effectively and ensure that all the schemes announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for Coimbatore are implemented on time. The minister further said that the ensuing mayoral election is a consequence of misconduct and loss of power. He was making an obvious reference to former mayor S.M.
Velusamy who was asked to resign after a series of allegations. The former mayor was allegedly involved in a hit and run incident that claimed the life of a youth. "Unlike other parties, in the AIADMK, those who err are not forgiven and the party leadership ensures that misconduct and indifference is duly punished," the minister said.
The minister listed the credentials of the mayoral candidate and stated that the candidate's political experience and his exposure in the council as a representative of the people will help in ensuring that the needs of people are fulfilled. The power situation that had paralysed the industrial city has improved drastically ever since the new government was formed after a thumping majority. The government will make sure that Coimbatore gets its fair share of power to revive the sick units.
Mayoral candidate Rajkumar said that if voted to power he would ensure that all the schemes initiated by the Chief Minister reaches the public. He also said that people have imposed so much confidence in the functioning of the party that the AIADMK was set to win all 234 constituencies in the 2016 elections. The campaign caravan which started on Edayar street wound through Thyagi Kumaran street, RG street, Raja street, Telugu street, MNG street, Sukrawarpet and Bazaar limits.
