Tamil Nadu election: This candidate approaches voters with a resignation-in-two-years promise

CHENNAI: During the election season, some leaders promise the sun, others the moon. Some seek votes by dangling freebies, while others promise better roads, drinking water and infrastructure. However, Pattali Makkal Katchi’s candidate in T Nagar in Chennai has a different promise – that he would resign if he fails to perform as an MLA within two years of being elected.
“We have elected two parties [DMK and AIADMK] in every election.But our facilities are so bad. I’ve told voters that I’ll set things right within two years. If I fail to do so, I’ll resign immediately from my MLA post,” says PMK candidate V Vinoth, 34. Vinoth runs a rice shop in Kodambakkam and earns Rs 70,000 per month.
This idea of resignation germinated during a brainstorming session with his friends a week ago. He has printed this resignation promise on party leaflets bearing his mobile number. He is sending the leaflets to residents through courier.
“Everywhere I went, aged women asked me if I would visit them after a year if they cast their votes for me. This is why I came up with this promise,” Vinoth says in all seriousness.
The first-time candidate is aware that his plans of improving the sanitation, drinking water and garbage problems in the constituency will run awry if an opposition party gets the majority.
“I read a newspaper report that even [DMK treasurer] M K Stalin couldn’t do much for Kolathur during the last five years of the AIADMK rule,” he says.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss should become the chief minister after the election so that he (Vinoth), if elected, can continue for five years as an MLA discharging his duties. Vinoth says it will be futile to remain as an MLA if the improvements he tries to bring about are stalled.
People are not willing to buy this promise and don’t consider it seriously, he adds in the same breath.
Some residents in T Nagar who are aware of his promise scoff at it. “This is just another one of the tall unrealistic promises made by politicians. Just that it is a bit different and amusing,” says 25-year-old R Aditya, a resident of Rangarajapuram in Kodambakkam.