Songs from DMDK leader Vijayakant’s movies blared from the speakers on Poonamallee High Road, groaning under the weight of heavy traffic on Thursday evening.
Women clad in yellow were waiting with poorna kumbam. An announcement was made on the exact location of the campaign vehicle of Premalatha Vijayakant, the DMDK treasurer, as she was coming to the city from Vellore.
The cadre, though, were not bored, as karagattam and thappattam kept them entertained. “It is only during the elections that we get a chance to showcase our traditional art forms and earn some money,” said a performer.
For over three hours, the cadre waited to watch Ms. Premalatha, who is spearheading the party’s campaign as her husband is recuperating. The crowd was jubilant when she emerged out of the campaign vehicle around 8 p.m.
Appeal to voters
She appealed to the crowd to vote for the AIADMK candidate G. Vaithiyanathan contesting the bypoll from Poonamallee Assembly constituency and P. Venugopal, the AIADMK candidate contesting from the Tiruvallur Lok Sabha constituency. She promised that flyovers would be constructed at Nazarathpet, Thirumazhisai and a hospital would be set up in Poonamallee.
She lambasted DMK treasurer Durai Murugan and said that he was put to shame as he had insulted the DMDK. When she paused, some of the cadre shot a question at her: “How is Annan Vijayakant?” To this she laughed and said he was doing fine. “He will be back in action soon,” she said and left for Sholinganallur, her next campaign venue.