Tirunelveli: The DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin walked along with people in Kanyakumari, gathering onlookers, most of whom shook hands with him. He was in a common man’s attire—a light rose full shirt tucked inside black pants.
Starting his meticulously planned state-wide tour —“Namakku Naame Vidiyalai Nokki” from Thiriveni Sangamam on Monday morning, the former deputy chief minister violated his party’s principle of atheism and prayed at the Swami Vivekananda Rock memorial. He also visited the Gandhi and Kamaraj memorials and took photographs like an ordinary tourist. He spoke to women, students and labourers on the streets. He enquired about the functioning of self help groups in their district and the women mobilised by his party men said that the AIADMK government had reduced revolving fund to self help groups.
Stalin, however, could not get a similar enthusiastic response from students, particularly girls, waiting at a bus stop in Kanyakumari. The DMK leader also had a discussion with traders at the Kottar Chamber of Commerce building, when some members of the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sanngalin Peravai complained of the complexity of the commercial tax structure.
Traders presented a petition, as they do with any politician, seeking to regularise the fee at the toll plaza and to check online marketing of all kinds of essential commodities. Stalin also met representatives of all religious groups. To enthuse Congressmen at Kanyakumari, he garlanded the Rajiv Gandhi statue.
Stalin used an open jeep for his tour in Kanyakumari district. Interestingly, none of his party cadres burst crackers or put up huge flex boards to welcome their party treasurer. Stalin is to continue his tour in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday.
