AMMK’s Subbiah thanks rivals for popularising him in South Chennai
Election Commission officials implement the model code of conduct (MCC) in letter and spirit, but the only difference is that they execute the MCC rules only with the AMMK candidates sparing the AIADMK and DMK, emphasises AMMK candidate Esakki Subbiah of South Chennai in an interview to DT Next.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-04-13 22:14 GMT
Chennai
Subbiah’s campaign approach resembles that of a city corporation councillor, where civic issues are discussed more.
Your party general secretary VK Sasikala is jailed in connection with a disproportionate case on charges of corruption. Will this not affect your prospects in the coming elections?
Our party leader is jailed due to political animosity and the arguments put forth by the prosecution. The public is not discussing this. This is not reflecting in the minds of voters.
DMK leader MK Stalin campaigns for the fall of Edappadi K Palaniswami government and the AMMK is also doing the same. Isn’t the DMK and AMMK on the same page? The AIADMK alleges that there is a secret pact between the DMK and AMMK, your comments.
We defeated the DMK in RK Nagar bypoll. DMK and the AMMK cannot be on the same page, but both are just reflecting the public anger against the AIADMK and the BJP.
Your leader TTV Dhinakaran won RK Nagar as the entire AMMK worked for the party leader’s victory. Now the party is contesting in 40 LS seats and 22 Assembly seats. Do you think that the same campaign module will work now?
Not only the AMMK zeroed in all its resources, even the AIADMK pitched in with ministers and the DMK positioned its functionaries, but the AMMK won. Now the DMK and AIADMK had given half of their seats to their allies and there is dissent within the alliance parties, whereas AMMK is going solo thus increasing our poll prospects.
What is the guarantee that Dhinakaran will not tie up with the BJP post polls? Your party supported BJP in the polls to elect President Ram Nath Kovind?
Ever since the formation of the party, the AMMK is opposing the BJP. If our leader Dhinakaran had compromised with the BJP, he would not have spent days in Tihar jail in a foisted Election Commission symbol case. The support to BJP’s Presidential candidate was during the earlier days due to the then political situation.
Public complain that the candidates are not seeking votes on door-to-door basis, but are sending micro level campaigners?
Through party workers and social media, we have reached the “Gift Box” symbol at the micro level, but due to time constraint I am not able to meet every voter in my constituency, however, I am reaching out to the maximum number of people during the mornings and evenings.
Covering the entire South Chennai seeking votes is a tough task and not adequate time is available for TN parties this time. Do you think you can cover the entire constituency?
I don’t believe in the concept of cent per cent coverage. Covering the entire Assembly constituency is itself a myth and in case of the Parliamentary seat the constituency is too big, but I am giving my best for the campaign and I have covered somewhere between 80 to 90 per cent of South Chennai and three more days are left.
Your rival candidates are campaigning that you’re an outsider to South Chennai and what is your poll promise?
I thank the AIADMK and DMK candidates for popularising me. I don’t talk too much politics during my campaign, but I assure that civic amenities will be my priority. Though party candidates talk about the next PM candidate, I restrict my campaign to basic civic issues.
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