“Amma wave is sweeping and I am sure to win. M.K. Stalin got into Kolathur only for the last six months, but I am the son of the soil and these are my people,” says AIADMK candidate J.C.D. Prabhakaran.
Excerpts from the interview given to S. Thirunavukarasu.
Q You have been shifted from Villivakkam to Kolathur constituency this time. How do you feel?
I defeated DMK leader K. Anbazhagan in the last elections in Villivakkam by a margin of 10,700 votes. I have worked for the people of my constituency for the past five years. I have always been with the people of my constituency. Besides, there is a huge Amma wave that is sweeping Tamil Nadu and this will ensure my victory from Kolathur.
Q What makes you think you will win from Kolathur this election?
The welfare schemes implemented by AIADMK government will speak for themselves. There is not even a single house in Kolathur which has not been benefited by the people-welfare schemes of AIADMK Government. You go to any house, you will find laptop, mixer grinder, wet grinder, table fan or at least one of these appliances. So many women have benefited by the gold for mangalsutra scheme formulated by Jayalalithaa. This is enough for me to win.
Q What is your election strategy?
Jayalalithaa has devised a strategy for every constituency. She speaks for the entire Tamil Nadu and she knows the people of the state. Her strategy never goes wrong. I will continue the good work that I did in Villivakkam in Kolathur as well.
Q You are contesting against DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, who is a sitting MLA from Kolathur and he has been interacting with the people here regularly. Aren’t you a little jittery?
Stalin has been into Kolathur only for the past six months. Though he is a sitting MLA, I am the son of the soil and I am sure to win from Kolathur. The achievements of AIADMK government are enough for me to fetch required votes to emerge victorious.
I may be the candidate here, but people know Jayalalithaa is the real candidate. They vote for Jayalalithaa and not for any particular candidate. I will win by a margin of at least 20,000 votes.
Q DMK says the AIADMK government failed the people during the recent floods. Stalin was here providing relief to the people. Will it not go against you?
Stalin met only his party men. He never met any common man. The financial assistance provided by DMK also went only to party men. No commoner was benefited from the relief work undertaken by Stalin. If you go around Kolathur and talk to people they themselves will tell you the tale.
They only helped party men. To say the Government failed in flood relief is false. In fact, the development work implemented at a cost of Rs 327 crore by the AIADMK government will help me immensely.
