Bypoll harbinger of ’16 elections: Jaya

CHENNAI: Pitted against minor rivals, including the CPI and a few independent candidates, chief minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday breezed through the R K Nagar constituency, winding up her whirlwind campaign for the June 27 byelection within two hours. Reading out her speech that lasted barely 15 minutes, Jayalalithaa sought a “massive victory” in the bypoll, which she referred to as “a harbinger” of the 2016 assembly polls. “I appeal to you to cast your votes for two leaves, the victorious symbol of MGR, and help me win with a huge margin,” she said. Much of her speech focused on the various welfare schemes launched by her government. She hit the campaign trail with a vow to work relentlessly to fulfill the expectations of the people.“I am by the people, for the people,” she asserted, sitting under spotlights in a campaign vehicle, accompanied by her associate Sasikalaa Natarajan. The AIADMK chief left her Poes Garden residence around 6.30 pm and was on the road for about two hours, speaking at two locations, Crowds gathered along her route, cheering and waving to her. The constituency was decked up for the occasion with party festoons and flags.Expressing her gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu for their prayers to see her return as chief minister, Jayalalithaa said, “This bypoll is against your wishes. Even as assembly polls are just a year away, I could not remain a chief minister for a while due to a case of political conspiracy,” she said, referring to the wealth case in which she was convicted by a Bengaluru court and disqualified from holding public office. Hundreds of party men and supporters from various parts of the state flocked to R K Nagar to catch a glimpse of the AIADMK leader, who was making her first public speech after her swearing-in on May 23, ten days after the Karnataka high court acquitted her.She took a swipe at the opposition for boycotting the bypoll, citing “imaginary” reasons. “This is not a bypoll, but an election that would bid adieu to those who created hurdles,” she said. “The CPI legislators had hailed our schemes in the assembly… But they level charges against us today as they are contesting against me,” she said.