Ayyakannu’s team to field 111 candidates against Modi

The state executive committee meeting of Thennindya Nadhigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam was held on Tuesday. Association president Sigamani presided over and the meeting, in which it was decided to field candidates against Modi for his ‘anti-farmer’ policies.

Speaking to reporters, Ayyakannu said the Prime Minister promised to double the profit of farm produces during his election campaign in 2014, adding that Modi also promised to link rivers and waive agriculture loans.

“He has not fulfilled any promise. Had he fulfilled them, the farmers could have led a decent life and many deaths could have been prevented,” Ayyakannu said.

He pointed out that Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan had met them five times when they staged a protest in New Delhi. “We also had met and conveyed our plight to both Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. However, no steps have been initiated to support the farmers. Hence, we have decided to field as many as 111 candidates against Modi,” he said.

Ayyakannu said that the association had already selected candidates for the Varanasi LS constituency, where Modi is planning to contest. “We have already ensured that 10 farmers second the candidature of each contestant. We will field a similar number of candidates from Tamil Nadu in any other constituency the Prime Minister may contest from,” he said.

He also urged the political parties to include their demands in their political manifestos. “Otherwise, the farmers’ association would work against those parties as well,” he warned.