Chennai: After capturing Fort St. George for a second consecutive term after 32 years, the AIADMK is gearing up to beat the DMK convincingly in the local body elections by bringing to the fore youth power in selection of candidates as well as in poll work to add energy and vigour to its campaign.
Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa had revamped the party’s youth brigade of Ilaiagnar and Ilampen Pasarai in eight districts by making fresh appointments.
The districts included South Chennai (South), Vellore (West) and Villupuram (South) where the DMK had beaten the ruling party by winning most of the seats.
Replacements have come in Tirunelveli (urban), Tiruchy (rural), Ariyalur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram where the scores were even in the Assembly elections.
The AIADMK is keen to reverse the trend in the Assembly elections, which was a neck-and-neck fight between the two Dravidian parties.
Those who did not work properly or worked against party candidates are being weeded out to give place to new faces. In some of the districts, office bearers in all the wings had been changed.
The wings where new functionaries had been nominated include MGR fans club, agriculture wing, J. Peravai, MGR youth, students, minorities, fishermen’s, medical, literary and drivers wings.
South Chennai (north) where the DMK swept the Assembly polls had seen infusion of new blood at all levels including taluk and area.
A total of 14 taluk secretaries and two area secretaries had been removed so far. The functionaries of taluks where the AIADMK polled lower votes had been shunted out. District level office bearers of the party had given place to younger ones at Thoothukudi and Kancheepuram where the DMK secured spectacular victories. Fresh blood had been infused even in Madurai and Coimbatore where the AIADMK routed its arch rival.
Besides, the party is expected to distribute tickets to young and fresh aspirants for the local body wards.
In Chennai, where the DMK managed to defeat even ministers, the ruling party is likely to field fresh faces since the functioning of the AIADMK councillors, especially during last year’s floods is said to have fanned resentment among the public.
