Chennai: The first thing that strikes you about both Anbumani Ramadoss and the posse of his ‘young’ nominees is that they’re all well-dressed - suited and booted to perfection. The similarity doesn’t end there. There is no dearth of confidence either.
A leader who says, “We have successfully closed down 605 Tasmac shops by fighting it out in the Supreme Court. Only 6,500 shops remain now,” is sure to rub some of that optimism on the youngsters as well.
For instance, take Vinoba Bhoopathy, (34), PMK’s Velachery Assembly constituency candidate. A civil engineer, who later pursued law to fulfil his civil service ambition, says that he had not really given a thought to entering politics until Anbumani came along. “If Dr AMR (Anbumani) becomes CM, he can bring about changes with just the snap of his fingers,” said Bhoopathy.
Sitting at the Ramadoss residence in Tilak Street, the young hopeful were all ears as Anbumani explained the campaign’s significant points. “If Estonia could give free transportation, why not Chennai?” Anbumani trailed off as the quartet nodded.
The former Union health minister makes no bones about his party’s stand against freebies. “Ours is a welfare state. That means the priority has to be providing uninterrupted water and power supply, free education and healthcare and creating employment opportunities,” said Anbumani.
Pointing out if the freebies and subsidies spent by successive Dravidian parties in power in Tamil Nadu were suspended, the state would be able to save close to Rs 62,000 crore, which Anbumani prefers to invest in providing free education and healthcare.
He firmly believes he had a hand in his rivals easing up on freebie promises.
“PMK set that mood. Every party is careful about freebie announcements because I find that the voter would prefer it if their leader would provide their children free education and a job rather than a TV, fan, mixie or grinder which doesn’t work after a week,” he said.
While other parties have star campaigners or recognisable faces for candidates, PMK outright lacks it. Has that ever been a spot of bother? “No!” he asserts.
“It is true that there used to be a time when people voted based on face value. Today, the voter is more educated. He/she is talking about development, policies and schemes,” he said.
“But that is not to say that we don’t have a face. The face is Anbumani and he comes with the promise of youth, progress, education, track record as a successful health minister and four international awards,” he signed off.
