CHENNAI: On Monday morning, DMK candidate for
Saidapet
and former Chennai mayor Ma Subramaniam hopped out of his car and walked into the bylanes of Kotturpuram, one of the localities worst affect by the December 2015 flood. Supporters showered flowers from the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board buildings. Subramanian, 56, doesn’t waste his time on hard-hitting speeches and sniping at opponents. He just walks to voters’ doorsteps and chats with them.
A DMK party member accompanying him said Ma Su, as he’s fondly known, refuses a vehicle. “He wants to walk to every nook and corner of the constituency. Sometimes we get tired, but don’t have a choice so we have to walk fast to keep up with him,” he said with a laugh.
For Ma Su, being on foot is no endurance test as he’s done 25 half marathons in two years. “I ran my first 21km marathon in February 2014 in Auroville when I was 54. Over the last two years, I have travelled across the country participating in 21km marathons. I have even gone to Australia and Qatar,” he says, adding that he runs for two hours a day between 5am to 7am. “Now, with a 14-hour work day, it’s a little difficult to maintain that regime,” he says.
Late last week too, Subramaniam was on the streets of Saidapet. At 6.30am, he began his campaign at Bharathi Street near Guindy Race Course. “I campaign till 11.30am every day,” he said, as he stopped to greet a voter with folded hands. “I like walking up to every person and talking to them. I don’t believe in waving at them from cars like other leaders.”
At times, an entire family descended on the street to greet him with a shawl, kumkum and garland. His supporters were quick to relieve their leader of the gifts as the sun beat down. At 9am, it was time for a tea break. “After 11.30am, the heat increases so I don’t want my people out on the streets. I meet association members and NGOs. Then I try to get some rest and start campaigning again by 4.30pm.”
By 4pm his house in Labour Colony in Guindy Industrial Estate was teeming with people. This time, he took a car to a meeting with the Saidapet Market Association, pointing out subways and bridges DMK built along the way. “This time, I will upgrade Saidapet market with parking facilities and revamp the government hospital. DMK has promised a 73km extension of the Metro rail from Siruseri to Maduravoyal. I will also take up stormwater drain work,” he said. “The AIADMK has done nothing in five years except set up idli shops,” he said.
Start a Conversation
Post comment