A bunch of Makkal Needhi Maiam supporters waited patiently for candidate Kameela Nasser at Brick Kiln Road, Purasawalkam. There was a clutch of people waiting on other streets too, so the campaign would begin.
The real meat of the campaign, though, began only with the entry of actor Sripriya.
As soon as Ms. Nasser, who is contesting from Chennai Central, arrived, the party members started raising slogans, letting the area know that the candidate had come.
The loudspeakers were sparingly used, and the candidate walked the narrow streets, seeking votes from home to home.
Eager residents
Once the residents heard that actor Sripriya had arrived, they came rushing out in a frenzy, eager to see the star at less than an arm’s length.
Many of the old residents stepped out and in hushed tones, pointing to the Aatukara Alamelu heroine, some shyly and others, with obvious glee.
The allure of star power, one realises, is never to be underestimated in Tamil Nadu.
Ms. Sripriya used it to her advantage too, using her infamous tone to command the people to vote for her colleague in the party.
Ms. Nasser, of course, who hails from a film family was not completely unknown to the people, as they told each other, “This is actor Nasser’s wife!”
Typical scenes of a campaign unfolded in repeat mode — a door-to-door campaign, talking with female voters in each household and, of course, naming babies.
The children too seemed fascinated by the candidate who tried to amuse them by switching the torch (the party’s symbol) on and off.