Thoothukudi: The DMK candidate in the fray against BJP's Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan in Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, strains every nerve to project herself not a Hindu-baiter in the race for votes.
The earlier speeches of the DMK atheist-MP, Kanimozhi against Hindu Gods, rituals and practices have been circulated now by BJP supporters with the aim of creating a Hindu solidarity against her in this election in Thoothukudi.
Two speeches-her controversial statement about Lord Balaji of Tirupati and her speech about how averse was her father, Karunanidhi towards the Hindu practice of wearing 'kumkum' or holy ash, went viral here, giving BJP an edge over the DMK in the southern parts of Thoothukudi constituency.
“It was to deny the allegation against her, Kanimozhi commenced her campaign formally on March 22 from the Theradi at Tiruchendur,” said a local DMK functionary, who wanted that at least from now she should stay away from ridiculing Hindu rituals.
Before Kanimozhi commenced her election campaign, the South district secretary of DMK, Anitha S Radhakrishnan said that victory for Kanimozhi launching her campaign from the land of “Soorsamharam” was ensured.
Kanimozhi who was present then smiled away the remark, indicating she was not anti-religion. Later, 'Prasad' from century-old Sankara Rameshvarar temple was reached to her by party functionary Geetha Jeevan.
To crown it all, the DMK candidate's mother, Rajathiammal, on Tuesday did special 'Pooja' at Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy temple in Tiruchendur for the victory of her daughter in Thoothukudi constituency. Accompanied by former DMK minister Tamilarasi and several other local DMK men, Rajathiammal told media persons outside the temple that she visited the temple to pray for her daughter and added, “I am happy that Lord Muruga will ensure victory for my daughter in the Lok Sabha election.”
“All this to win in the race for votes,” sardonically commented a retired school teacher, Meenakshi Sundaram. A native of Kanniyakumari district, the retired teacher said that the BJP in that constituency in the 2014 elections had also hired some pastors to campaign for them.
