Jaya hits poll trail with home turf rally today

CHENNAI: Chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa will launch her party's electoral campaign from her R K Nagar constituency on Saturday evening, much ahead of her rivals who are still deciding on seat sharing and identification of constituencies. She will introduce her candidates and address arally on Island Grounds near the War Memorial.
The AIADMK leader is also expected to release her party's manifesto that will showcase the party's achievements and its future agenda.
The 68-year-old leader will mainly address public rallies in key cities during her 14-day state wide tour. The urban venues have been care fully chosen and spread across caste pockets with an interval of one to three days. AIADMK has made elaborate arrangements to use hi-tech LED display vehicles to live-stream her campaign speeches. As many as 70 vehicles would be used.
Despite a perceived anti-incumbency in Chennai and some northern districts after the December floods, Jayalalithaa has fielded some ministers and party heavyweights in all 22 Chennai constituencies, Jayalalithaa, who has embarked on a mission to win a second consecutive term, has fielded her candidates in 227 constituencies, leaving the remaining seven for six minor partners. “She will counter allegations of her rivals about ineffective governance with statistics and facts during her rallies,“ a senior leader said, seeking anonymity .
The AIADMK leader will showcase the achievements of her fiveyear tenure, including making the state “powersurplus“ compared to the “dark rule“ of the DMK. The state's legal victories in inter-state disputes like Cauvery and Mullaperiyar during her tenure, `giant' strides on the education front, and reducing infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate are likely to figure in her campaign speeches.
The party hopes to cash in on the goodwill generated from implementation of projects like metro rail and rolling out of a slew of welfare schemes and Amma brand of products and services from canteens to pharmacies and salt to cement. “Each family in the state has benefited from our Amma's welfare programmes and that will turn into votes,“ said a district secretary, not willing to be named.