REFUGEE

MADURAI: "Tiruchendur is the constituency from where I passed my first political test after the late chief minister MG Ramachandran made me the
party's propaganda secretary way back in 1983 when I campaigned here. I am sure you will give me another victory," said AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, kicking off her party's campaign from this coastal town in south Tamil Nadu, where the bulk of the electorate constitutes the fishing community.

Jayalalithaa, who arrived in the small fishing village of Punnaikayal in Tiruchendur constituency to begin her first lap of her two-day election campaign for her party candidate Amman T Narayanan for the December 19 byelection, was given a tumultuous welcome by cadres and locals.

Addressing the crowd, Jayalalithaa said it was she who had introduced an unknown face to this region (referring to Anitha Radhakrishnan, who quit the party to join the DMK and has been fielded as the candidate here) and made him win twice and also made him a minister. "Now with the betrayal of this traitor, an unwanted byelection has been thrust on you. Take the bribes they offer and defeat them," she said.

AIADMK members had made elaborate arrangements for her visit. Bouquets of roses were brought from Madurai and four dance troupes entertained the voters at each spot that Jayalalithaa addressed. She attacked the ruling DMK and accused it of having done little for the fishing community.

D Anton, a native of this village, now living in Tuticorin had come all the way to Punnaikayal just to hear Amma.

T Susai, a fisherman, said Jayalalithaa's visit would lift up the sagging AIADMK image here. "We may not win this byelection, but Amma's visit will definitely ensure the party's victory here in the next general elections," he said.