THE people of Tamilnadu have always shown a new way during times of crisis, and continuing the tradition; the time has come to elect a people-centric government led by the People’s Welfare Front, Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of CPI (M), said in the election campaign.

CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat started campaign in various parts of Tamilnadu from May 4. Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, Party Polit Bureau members Prakash Karat, AK Padmanabhan and Central Committee member Sudha Sundararaman also took part in the campaign.

Addressing three public meetings in the city of Chennai on May 4 evening, Yechury asked the voters to elect candidates from the six-party front comprising DMDK, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI (M) and TMC to get rid of the rampant corruption in the state.

Canvassing for Dr V Vasanthi Devi, former vice chancellor, who is contesting as PWF candidate in the RK Nagar constituency against chief minister Jayalalithaa, and for K Bhim Rao, CPI(M) candidate in Maduravoyal constituency, and for A Soundararajan, CPI(M) Central Committee member and Party candidate in Perambur  constituency, Yechury said that a significant section of youth is currently jobless; it pointed to the state’s failure to create new jobs. Forecasting a water crisis in the coming days despite a good monsoon last year, he accused the Dravidian parties of destroying lakes and tank aquifers that acted as a robust water harvesting system.

He pointed out how leaders of both the DMK and the AIADMK faced corruption charges.

Making a strong plea for electing Vasanthi Devi who, apart from possessing all necessary qualities, also hailed from an illustrious family of union leaders, Yechury compared the state election to a football game.  He wanted the people to create a new goal post by electing the PWF for a corruption-free and development-oriented government. He appealed the voters to elect PWF and its six party alliance and he said that voting PWF means voting for yourself and for your better future and to make better Tamilnadu.

Addressing huge public meetings in Madurai west and Dindigul constituencies in support of CPI(M) candidates U Vasuki, Party Central Committee member and N Pandi, Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member said that for the first time a front with a clean image and common ideas has been established in the state with an objective of reconstructing Tamilnadu as it had failed in very many spheres in the last four decades.

With a common minimum programme, the PWF would steer the state towards development and deliver good governance. Accusing the DMK and the AIADMK of ruining the state, she said that the letter ‘A’ alone was the difference between the two Dravidian parties. She also satirically said that the letter 'A' means 'Amount'. The AIADMK is coming with the 'Amount' which it looted in the five year rule, she commented.

Taking a dig at AIADMK general secretary and chief minister Jayalalithaa, Brinda Karat said that her government had remained silent over the anti-people acts of prime minister Narendra Modi. The deafening silence of the state government was baffling, Brinda Karat said, and wanted to know the reasons for the ‘compromise.’

While the government was keen on privatising education, it was focused on garnering more and more revenues from the sale of liquor through State-owned Tasmac, she said.

The PWF was more concerned about livelihood issues and the rising tide of violence, atrocities against women and caste inequalities.

Expressing concern over the Election Commission of India’s functioning, Brinda Karat said that use of money power in innovative ways reflected the narrow framework of the EC. The EC should go behind those indulging in such corrupt practices and instill confidence in law-abiding citizens, she stressed.