CM Edappadi K Palaniswami makes fiery speech amidst hostile crowd at Eruvadi

NANGUNERI (

TIRUNELVELI

): In the Muslim-dominated Eruvadi town in Nanguneri assembly segment, AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran is larger than life. A Jesima, 60, and S Bousiya, 57, of Marakadai Street, say they came to watch chief minister

Edappadi

K Palaniswami’s campaign only for the sake of MGR.


“I was 10 years old when I heard the song ‘Nalla Perai Vanga Vendum Pillaigaley’(Earn a good name children…) from MGR’s film ‘Nam Naadu (Our Cuntry)’ (1969). I am his diehard fan for the last five decades. I have always voted for the AIADMK and will do so,” said Jesima.

On Monday, as Palaniswami’s cavalcade weaved through the town that appeared unresponsive and even hostile, there were few cheers from those standing close to the CM’s campaign van. AIADMK candidate V Narayanan, standing behind the CM in the van, could be seen frantically signalling to the crowd to clap. The CM attacked DMK president M K Stalin and called him a liar and cheat. “Stalin should be given a Noble prize for lying, as he defeated the AIADMK in the general elections by making false promises,” he said.

Palaniswami wondered to whom Stalin was handing over the grievance petitions that he collected from villagers at his campaigns? “None of the petitions have reached us. It will, if you give them to the ruling party,” he said. N Kumar, 40, a small-time businessman and NTK sympathizer, said the crowd for Stalin’s campaign was just half as compared to that gathered for the CM. “But the crowd for Stalin was mostly from the locality and was far more receptive,” he said.

Moments before the campaign commenced, Selvam, 73, and her friend Ephrain Alphonse Antony, 67, holding up plastic two-leaves that had the images of EPS and O Panneerselvam, were seriously debating as to who was the CM and who his deputy. They were among the many women who were seated on the steps of shops that had downed their shutters for more than 50 minutes. “We were brought here long before the CM came and cannot stand for long,” they said and waited for the organisers to take them back home.

Another woman held a blue colour token with a number. “I have to present it to get Rs 200,” she said. Cadres waved flags of PMK, TMC and other alliance party flags. But, BJP flags seemed scarce in Eruvadi. The crowd was more receptive at the CM’s next halt Mavadi, an AIADMK stronghold. The crowd was hardly responsive here too and the CM could be heard saying, “It would be comforting if you respond.”