VELLOR: For the 43-year old Shoukath Sheriff, contesting the election for the first time in his life, representing the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) is not going to be an easy task in Vellore.
Though he claims that his focus would be on winning the goodwill of the youth force here, that in itself, may not be sufficient. Especially given that he will have to face a stiff battle against the sitting MP Khader Mohideen on one side and the AIADMK candidate, yet to be announced.
Shoukath hails from a family that runs freight cargo businesses spread across the country and has been doing so for three generations. He says that he was interested in politics even as a student. His political career began as a member of the Tamil Nadu All India Congress Committee soon after his BA at Pachiappas College in Chennai. He was looking after his family business in Delhi when he got married to the daughter of the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. The couple has two sons who are studying in a Chennai school now.
“I was not happy with the Congress. I was attracted by Vijayakanth and his striking appeal and clarion call to youth force to clean up the polity,” Shoukath told Express. After joining the DMDK last year he was installed as the State youth wing secretary for Delhi.
He admits though, that being the son-in-law of a former CM may not carry any weight here. However, he is also quick to point to the profound contact already established by him with the locals, which would certainly help in cutting the ice. “Please do not look at me as a non-local,” he pleaded. “My ancestors have their roots here and I have a lot of relatives and friends on whose appeal I volunteered to contest from Vellore,” he added.
His biggest strength, according to him, is being an educated youth, committed to do good for the people and willing to bring change in all forms if given an opportunity. “I do not want to reap anything from politics,” he quipped.
“I will be corruption free and accessible to the people of this constituency anytime.” He said he would focus on health issues, trade development, tourism promotion among other things. How would he go about convincing the voters? “I am working on the strategies which I may not be able to divulge now, but one thing I assure the people here that I would be a model MP,” he added.
Shoukath feels that the strength and support of the party cadre, his plan to undertake a door-to-door campaign, Captain’s charisma and cashing in on the ‘vote for change’ mood will help him garner support from the majority of the Velloreans.
Source: www.expressbuzz.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Teach DMK, AIADMK fitting lesson: DMDK
New promise: DMDK leader Vijaykant addressing an election campaign at Sri Ramapuram near Dindigul on Tuesday.
DINDIGUL: “Give Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam an opportunity to root out corruption and eradicate poverty. Already you (voters ) are tired of electing DMK five times and AIAMDK twice which did nothing for your welfare and development of the state. Both parties have become prosperous with your votes. But you remain paupers even today,” said Vijaykant, DMDK leader.
He was kicking off his election campaign for DMDK candidate P. Muthuvel Raj at Reddiyarchatram, near here on Monday.
“Both have deceived you. It is the right time to teach them a fitting lesson,” he said and questioned, “Do you want to cast your vote once again to one of them that did not respect people?” The crowd cheerfully shouted, “no.”
“You think and decide, show your power to them,” he said.
Higher education was still not accessible to the poor. Education loan was a distant dream to common man but accessible only to those who got recommendation from political leaders.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that students would get interest free loan and the announcement remained only on paper, he charged.
Having listed out the failures of State and Central governments, he also said that DMK has been silently watching people being killed in Sri Lanka.
Even today, Tamil Nadu has been depending on three neighbouring States for water.
Both parties failed miserably in settling Cauvery and Mullai Periyar issues, he added.
Crowd was impressive at Sri Ramapuram and poor at Reddiyarchatram and Chinnalapatti.
He cancelled his campaign tour half way owing to vehicle repair and decided to campaign at Chinnalapatti, Nilakottai and Natham in the evening.
Despite ban on plastics, festoons made of plastics decorated several roads at Chinnalapatti.
Concluding his campaign for Karur constituency candidate R. Ramanathan at Vedasandur on Monday night, Mr. Vijaykant said over 40,000 mill workers had lost their jobs owing to acute power crisis that paralysed spinning mills in Vedasandur.
All sections of people including farmers have been struggling. The State government could not repair shutters of Kudaganar dam for the past one year.
Source: www.hindu.com
Friday, April 3, 2009
Vijaykanth calls all Tamil Nadu politicians corrupt
Apr 2nd, 2009
Chennai, April 2 (IANS) Actor-turned-politician and DMDK leader Vijaykanth Thursday charged all the political leaders in Tamil Nadu with indulging in corruption.
“My DMDK is in the political fray, placing its faith on suffering masses especially women to fight against self-seeking politicians for whom power through coalitions are means to loot and share the booty,” Vijaykanth said in a series of election meetings in southern Tamil Nadu, party sources said.
He said while there had been no stigma of graft against former chief ministers K. Kamaraj and C.N. Annadurai, current Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and his predecessor and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha had indulged in corruption but were still seeking votes from the people.
“From nationalised banks to small cooperative affairs, from major contracts to minor village-level improvements, every public act is a source for corruption,” Vijaykanth said, adding he began his career against such corruption and would continue to do so.
During his public meetings since Monday, Vijaykanth has been continuously attacking all political leaders of the state including Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The DMDK is contesting all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu in multi-cornered contests versus political fronts led by the ruling DMK and the main opposition led by AIADMK, besides the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance comprising smaller outfits led by other actors-turned-politicians Sarath Kumar and Karthick.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati is scheduled to campaign Friday in temple town Madurai, 400 km from the state capital, party general secretary Suresh Mane told reporters Thursday.
He said the BSP had announced 23 candidates, drawn from different castes, religions and economic backgrounds, and Mayawati was expected to announce the remaining 16.
Source: www.sindhtoday.net
Chennai, April 2 (IANS) Actor-turned-politician and DMDK leader Vijaykanth Thursday charged all the political leaders in Tamil Nadu with indulging in corruption.
“My DMDK is in the political fray, placing its faith on suffering masses especially women to fight against self-seeking politicians for whom power through coalitions are means to loot and share the booty,” Vijaykanth said in a series of election meetings in southern Tamil Nadu, party sources said.
He said while there had been no stigma of graft against former chief ministers K. Kamaraj and C.N. Annadurai, current Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and his predecessor and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha had indulged in corruption but were still seeking votes from the people.
“From nationalised banks to small cooperative affairs, from major contracts to minor village-level improvements, every public act is a source for corruption,” Vijaykanth said, adding he began his career against such corruption and would continue to do so.
During his public meetings since Monday, Vijaykanth has been continuously attacking all political leaders of the state including Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The DMDK is contesting all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu in multi-cornered contests versus political fronts led by the ruling DMK and the main opposition led by AIADMK, besides the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance comprising smaller outfits led by other actors-turned-politicians Sarath Kumar and Karthick.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati is scheduled to campaign Friday in temple town Madurai, 400 km from the state capital, party general secretary Suresh Mane told reporters Thursday.
He said the BSP had announced 23 candidates, drawn from different castes, religions and economic backgrounds, and Mayawati was expected to announce the remaining 16.
Source: www.sindhtoday.net
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Vijayakanth Interview...Old One but Good One
'I will not loot the people'
May 08, 2006
When film actor Vijayakanth started the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam party, nobody gave him a chance. His DMDK party entered the election fray all alone when the two major parties -- the DMK and the AIADMK -- are contesting the polls in the company of many other smaller parties. He also fielded candidates in all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Initially, he was was ridiculed by many. Soon, much to the surprise of all the poll watchers, people thronged to his meetings in large numbers. Rural Tamil Nadu, especially the rural youth, find his manifesto appealing, and seem to believe that he will be able to keep his promises.
Though earlier opinion polls did not give him many votes, he is now expected to get 10 to 15 per cent of votes, and could be the deciding factor in the May 8 election.
Shobha Warrier caught up with him on a hot May morning near Vridhachalam.
Why did you decide to choose Vridhachalam as your constituency which many say is not very safe for you?
I chose Vridhachalam because I have a lot of fans here. Then, this is a village, and I love villages. I have come here several times earlier, and I have noticed that it is very remote, and it will be a challenge to develop such a place.
Some leaders choose Chennai (Karunanidhi) and some the southern end of Tamil Nadu (Jayalalithaa). Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) was born in Thiruvaroor. Why is he standing from Chennai? From Chennai, Jayalalithaa has gone to Aandipatti. (The late Congress doyen K Kamaraj) who was born in Virudhunagar went to Nagercoil to contest the elections. I decided to contest from the centre of the state.
The Assembly Election 2006
Is it necessary that we should choose only safe seats? What is needed is to serve the people, which you can do from any place. I also felt that as the leader of a party, I should not look for a safe constituency. Instead I should contest from a place which is the toughest. When a leader of a party contests from a rural place, it will help the development of the village immensely.
Now that you have been campaigning here as a candidate, what do you think this village lacks, and what are your plans for this village?
I have noticed that this place does not have drinking water. There are no good roads here. No medical facilities too. I want to first provide them these three major things. And I will fulfil my promise. Even if I am only an MLA, I will ensure the development of this remote village. I will not leave the place unless I solve these three major concerns.
Many describe your decision to go alone as courageous. Why did you decide to do that?
Yes, it is a courageous decision. Unless you stand alone, how will people know what you are capable of?
Why are you offering so many freebies?
Kalaignar today says he will give subsidised kerosene. Jayalalithaa says she will give 4 grams of gold to all brides. I have promised all this in the beginning itself. I have promised to give Rs 10,000 when a girl child is born in a family. With that Rs 10,000 itself, you can buy gold but I said I would deposit that amount in the bank for the child. By the time she is ready for marriage, it will become Rs 2 lakhs with which you can buy gold and also conduct her wedding.
When I said I would give cows, many scoffed at me. But you know why I promised to give a cow to a family that is below the poverty line? It will help a family in a village because it gives milk. I did not make any stupid promises. I promised only what is needed for the rural poor.
The Sun may set forever in Thanjavur
Now, the other two parties are offering more and more freebies, one after the other, every day. Why were they not giving all this when they were in power? If they are offering all this, it means it is possible to give these things. Why did they cheat the people all these years?
You should understand that I have promised certain things in the beginning and I am sticking to it unlike these two parties who are vying with each other every day. Are they not trying to cheat people?
You worked in films for so many years and made money. Why do you spend your hard earned money in politics?
Even when I was young, I had this inclination to help people. It has continued. The path I have chosen is a path to do service.It is not that I will do it only after I join politics. I have been doing social service all these years.
I felt politics will give me more opportunity to help people, and it is difficult to help all as an individual. If I could do so many things as an individual, as a political leader, will I not be able to do more?
All the opinion polls say you will decide who will come to power in Tamil Nadu in the sense, the results depend on which party's votes you will be taking away. What do you say about this?I don't think of all those things. I don't even know what the opinion polls say. I don't want to.
When you first said you were standing alone, nobody gave you any chance or importance. Now that the D-day is fast approaching, poll pundits say you will be a strong force…
You are right. Nobody wrote good things about me. Nobody said good things about me. I would say they saw the pulse of the people only now while I saw it much earlier. I understood the minds of the people, that's why I decided to face the electorate all alone. Both the parties are doing wrong things. But instead of talking about what they have not done, I am telling people what I will do for them.
What kind of results do you expect in this election for your party?
I have fielded candidates in 234 constituencies. As a leader, I should say we will win in all the 234 seats. If there is 65 per cent polling, we will get 67 seats. If the poll percentage is more than 75 to 80 per cent, then we will get the state like it happened to NTR (the late Andhra Pradesh leader and movie superstar N T Rama Rao). Many are talking about a hung assembly but I feel miracles can also happen.
Vijayakanth has to wait patiently
If it is a hung assembly, will you join any alliance?
I have not even thought about that now.
You are testing the electoral waters for the first time. If you don't get the expected results, will you go away, or, will you continue in politics?
I will continue in politics. I did not come here to run away. I have seen victory and failure several times when I was in the movies. So, I am not scared of losses at all.
When I travelled to rural Tamil Nadu, I found that the youth are very attracted to you because you are promising education and employment opportunities.
Who made them uneducated? Who is responsible if they are not educated and they have no jobs? Both the DMK and the AIADMK. You can describe people as educated. Why do we have uneducated?
Kalaignar was the chief minister four times. Jayalalithaa was the CM twice. Why didn't they do something for the youth? Why didn't they take care of them?
The expectations of rural youth are really high. They say you will do this, that… Are you not scared?
I am not scared. Why should I be scared?
We can fulfil their dreams. It is not impossible. It is possible. I have the confidence in me that I can do more than what I have promised. The others have been looting the people all these years. If you don't do that, you can do a lot for the people. I will not loot. I will only serve the people.
Is it not difficult to be so pure in politics? You may be honest and good at heart but you will have MLAs and people to work for you. If they are corrupt, what can you do?
I don't agree with you. Today, party members will listen to what the leader says. Why am I canvassing in all the 234 constituencies? Because I want to tell the people that I am responsible.
Dindigul: Are elections really on?
You are being compared to MGR…
MGR is not anybody's property. People compare me to MGR. I had told my people not to compare me with MGR because he was in the other party. But they refused to listen to me. The irony is now that we have the picture of MGR in our posters, the AIADMK also has him in their posters. Till now, you had only Jayalalithaa's photo in their posters.
Because we have Kamaraj's photo in our posters, the Congress suddenly remembered him. Till now the Congress had only pictures of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Now, suddenly they have discovered Kamaraj.
Caste plays a major role in Tamil Nadu elections. Did you look at the caste of the person while choosing a candidate?
I didn't write my caste and religion in the form. Our party does not believe in caste or religion.
Source:www.rediff.com
May 08, 2006
When film actor Vijayakanth started the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam party, nobody gave him a chance. His DMDK party entered the election fray all alone when the two major parties -- the DMK and the AIADMK -- are contesting the polls in the company of many other smaller parties. He also fielded candidates in all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Initially, he was was ridiculed by many. Soon, much to the surprise of all the poll watchers, people thronged to his meetings in large numbers. Rural Tamil Nadu, especially the rural youth, find his manifesto appealing, and seem to believe that he will be able to keep his promises.
Though earlier opinion polls did not give him many votes, he is now expected to get 10 to 15 per cent of votes, and could be the deciding factor in the May 8 election.
Shobha Warrier caught up with him on a hot May morning near Vridhachalam.
Why did you decide to choose Vridhachalam as your constituency which many say is not very safe for you?
I chose Vridhachalam because I have a lot of fans here. Then, this is a village, and I love villages. I have come here several times earlier, and I have noticed that it is very remote, and it will be a challenge to develop such a place.
Some leaders choose Chennai (Karunanidhi) and some the southern end of Tamil Nadu (Jayalalithaa). Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) was born in Thiruvaroor. Why is he standing from Chennai? From Chennai, Jayalalithaa has gone to Aandipatti. (The late Congress doyen K Kamaraj) who was born in Virudhunagar went to Nagercoil to contest the elections. I decided to contest from the centre of the state.
The Assembly Election 2006
Is it necessary that we should choose only safe seats? What is needed is to serve the people, which you can do from any place. I also felt that as the leader of a party, I should not look for a safe constituency. Instead I should contest from a place which is the toughest. When a leader of a party contests from a rural place, it will help the development of the village immensely.
Now that you have been campaigning here as a candidate, what do you think this village lacks, and what are your plans for this village?
I have noticed that this place does not have drinking water. There are no good roads here. No medical facilities too. I want to first provide them these three major things. And I will fulfil my promise. Even if I am only an MLA, I will ensure the development of this remote village. I will not leave the place unless I solve these three major concerns.
Many describe your decision to go alone as courageous. Why did you decide to do that?
Yes, it is a courageous decision. Unless you stand alone, how will people know what you are capable of?
Why are you offering so many freebies?
Kalaignar today says he will give subsidised kerosene. Jayalalithaa says she will give 4 grams of gold to all brides. I have promised all this in the beginning itself. I have promised to give Rs 10,000 when a girl child is born in a family. With that Rs 10,000 itself, you can buy gold but I said I would deposit that amount in the bank for the child. By the time she is ready for marriage, it will become Rs 2 lakhs with which you can buy gold and also conduct her wedding.
When I said I would give cows, many scoffed at me. But you know why I promised to give a cow to a family that is below the poverty line? It will help a family in a village because it gives milk. I did not make any stupid promises. I promised only what is needed for the rural poor.
The Sun may set forever in Thanjavur
Now, the other two parties are offering more and more freebies, one after the other, every day. Why were they not giving all this when they were in power? If they are offering all this, it means it is possible to give these things. Why did they cheat the people all these years?
You should understand that I have promised certain things in the beginning and I am sticking to it unlike these two parties who are vying with each other every day. Are they not trying to cheat people?
You worked in films for so many years and made money. Why do you spend your hard earned money in politics?
Even when I was young, I had this inclination to help people. It has continued. The path I have chosen is a path to do service.It is not that I will do it only after I join politics. I have been doing social service all these years.
I felt politics will give me more opportunity to help people, and it is difficult to help all as an individual. If I could do so many things as an individual, as a political leader, will I not be able to do more?
All the opinion polls say you will decide who will come to power in Tamil Nadu in the sense, the results depend on which party's votes you will be taking away. What do you say about this?I don't think of all those things. I don't even know what the opinion polls say. I don't want to.
When you first said you were standing alone, nobody gave you any chance or importance. Now that the D-day is fast approaching, poll pundits say you will be a strong force…
You are right. Nobody wrote good things about me. Nobody said good things about me. I would say they saw the pulse of the people only now while I saw it much earlier. I understood the minds of the people, that's why I decided to face the electorate all alone. Both the parties are doing wrong things. But instead of talking about what they have not done, I am telling people what I will do for them.
What kind of results do you expect in this election for your party?
I have fielded candidates in 234 constituencies. As a leader, I should say we will win in all the 234 seats. If there is 65 per cent polling, we will get 67 seats. If the poll percentage is more than 75 to 80 per cent, then we will get the state like it happened to NTR (the late Andhra Pradesh leader and movie superstar N T Rama Rao). Many are talking about a hung assembly but I feel miracles can also happen.
Vijayakanth has to wait patiently
If it is a hung assembly, will you join any alliance?
I have not even thought about that now.
You are testing the electoral waters for the first time. If you don't get the expected results, will you go away, or, will you continue in politics?
I will continue in politics. I did not come here to run away. I have seen victory and failure several times when I was in the movies. So, I am not scared of losses at all.
When I travelled to rural Tamil Nadu, I found that the youth are very attracted to you because you are promising education and employment opportunities.
Who made them uneducated? Who is responsible if they are not educated and they have no jobs? Both the DMK and the AIADMK. You can describe people as educated. Why do we have uneducated?
Kalaignar was the chief minister four times. Jayalalithaa was the CM twice. Why didn't they do something for the youth? Why didn't they take care of them?
The expectations of rural youth are really high. They say you will do this, that… Are you not scared?
I am not scared. Why should I be scared?
We can fulfil their dreams. It is not impossible. It is possible. I have the confidence in me that I can do more than what I have promised. The others have been looting the people all these years. If you don't do that, you can do a lot for the people. I will not loot. I will only serve the people.
Is it not difficult to be so pure in politics? You may be honest and good at heart but you will have MLAs and people to work for you. If they are corrupt, what can you do?
I don't agree with you. Today, party members will listen to what the leader says. Why am I canvassing in all the 234 constituencies? Because I want to tell the people that I am responsible.
Dindigul: Are elections really on?
You are being compared to MGR…
MGR is not anybody's property. People compare me to MGR. I had told my people not to compare me with MGR because he was in the other party. But they refused to listen to me. The irony is now that we have the picture of MGR in our posters, the AIADMK also has him in their posters. Till now, you had only Jayalalithaa's photo in their posters.
Because we have Kamaraj's photo in our posters, the Congress suddenly remembered him. Till now the Congress had only pictures of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Now, suddenly they have discovered Kamaraj.
Caste plays a major role in Tamil Nadu elections. Did you look at the caste of the person while choosing a candidate?
I didn't write my caste and religion in the form. Our party does not believe in caste or religion.
Source:www.rediff.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
VijayaKanth out with candidates list
NT Bureau | Thu, 26 Mar, 2009,03:12 PM
.
After being the first to kickstart the election campaign, actor-politician and DMDK president Vijayakanth took the lead in releasing the first list of candidates for the 13 May Lok Sabha elections.
.
At a time when last ditch efforts are on by the Congress to rope the party into the DMK-led DPA, the release of candidates and constituency list (some places where Congress will be contesting) makes it explicitly clear that his party would go it alone in its maiden foray in the Lok Sabha polls.
Vijayakanth, who kickstarted his campaign trail on 22 March from Kancheepuarm had already hinted that he would go it alone in the ensuing polls, saying his alliance was only with the ‘God’ and the ‘people’.
However, he had said he would reveal his party’s stand while re-launching his campaign from the southern tip of Kanniyakumari today.
Hours before re-commencing his electioneering, Vijayakanth who had conducted interviews with the aspiring candidates over the last three days, today announced the first list of nine candidates for the elections.
K Pandiarajan, founder of Ma Foi Management Consultants limited, a public limited HR Consulting company, figure among the first list. He would test the election waters from the Virudhunagar Parliamentary constituency.
DMDK Deputy General Secretary and former AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member S Austin, who had quit the party and joined the DMDK when it was founded in 2005, was nominated from Kanniyakumari.
Following is the first list of candidates
P Muthuvelraj (Dindugul), S Austin (Kanniyakumari), S Michael Royappan (Tirunelveli), Ma Foi K Pandiarajan (Virudhunagar), ‘Azhagapuram’ R Mohanraj (Salem), A M G Vijayakumar (Trichy), R M Muthulakshmi (Madurai), M C Santhanam (Theni) and N Mageshwaran (Namakkal).
(Photos on Page 7)
Lashes out at MK
Vijayakanth condemned Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for demeaning the sentiments of others in the Lankan issue. Addressing media persons at Chennai airport before leaving to Kaniyakumari today, the DMDK leader said by making callous and needless remarks on others over the Lankan Tamil issue, he is demaning their intentions.
It may be recalled that Karunanidhi, taking a dig at PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, said yesterday, ‘Let their supporters make a clandestine visit to Sri Lanka. We, who are charged as cowards, will enjoy their victory. Let them also take AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to head their march, who will definitely win and arrest Rajapakse and bring him to India’.
‘I am not for 3 or 4 seats’
Putting rest to speculation that he would join the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamilnadu, Vijayakanth today said in Kanyakumari that he was not running the party for three or four seats.
He was apparently referring to the reported offer of some seats by the Congress to rope in the DMDK into the alliance led by DMK in the State.
‘If I wanted to have an alliance, I would have settled for three or four seats,’ the 57-year old actor said. The DMDK had polled eight per cent votes in the 2007 Assembly elections even though Vijayakanth was the lone winner of his party.
With the PMK joining the rival AIADMK-led front, the DMK-Congress combine would contest the 39 Lok Sabha seats with smaller allies like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.Vijayakanth lashed out at the UPA Government, accusing it of not doing any thing to save the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Source:newstodaynet.com
.
After being the first to kickstart the election campaign, actor-politician and DMDK president Vijayakanth took the lead in releasing the first list of candidates for the 13 May Lok Sabha elections.
.
At a time when last ditch efforts are on by the Congress to rope the party into the DMK-led DPA, the release of candidates and constituency list (some places where Congress will be contesting) makes it explicitly clear that his party would go it alone in its maiden foray in the Lok Sabha polls.
Vijayakanth, who kickstarted his campaign trail on 22 March from Kancheepuarm had already hinted that he would go it alone in the ensuing polls, saying his alliance was only with the ‘God’ and the ‘people’.
However, he had said he would reveal his party’s stand while re-launching his campaign from the southern tip of Kanniyakumari today.
Hours before re-commencing his electioneering, Vijayakanth who had conducted interviews with the aspiring candidates over the last three days, today announced the first list of nine candidates for the elections.
K Pandiarajan, founder of Ma Foi Management Consultants limited, a public limited HR Consulting company, figure among the first list. He would test the election waters from the Virudhunagar Parliamentary constituency.
DMDK Deputy General Secretary and former AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member S Austin, who had quit the party and joined the DMDK when it was founded in 2005, was nominated from Kanniyakumari.
Following is the first list of candidates
P Muthuvelraj (Dindugul), S Austin (Kanniyakumari), S Michael Royappan (Tirunelveli), Ma Foi K Pandiarajan (Virudhunagar), ‘Azhagapuram’ R Mohanraj (Salem), A M G Vijayakumar (Trichy), R M Muthulakshmi (Madurai), M C Santhanam (Theni) and N Mageshwaran (Namakkal).
(Photos on Page 7)
Lashes out at MK
Vijayakanth condemned Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for demeaning the sentiments of others in the Lankan issue. Addressing media persons at Chennai airport before leaving to Kaniyakumari today, the DMDK leader said by making callous and needless remarks on others over the Lankan Tamil issue, he is demaning their intentions.
It may be recalled that Karunanidhi, taking a dig at PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, said yesterday, ‘Let their supporters make a clandestine visit to Sri Lanka. We, who are charged as cowards, will enjoy their victory. Let them also take AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to head their march, who will definitely win and arrest Rajapakse and bring him to India’.
‘I am not for 3 or 4 seats’
Putting rest to speculation that he would join the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamilnadu, Vijayakanth today said in Kanyakumari that he was not running the party for three or four seats.
He was apparently referring to the reported offer of some seats by the Congress to rope in the DMDK into the alliance led by DMK in the State.
‘If I wanted to have an alliance, I would have settled for three or four seats,’ the 57-year old actor said. The DMDK had polled eight per cent votes in the 2007 Assembly elections even though Vijayakanth was the lone winner of his party.
With the PMK joining the rival AIADMK-led front, the DMK-Congress combine would contest the 39 Lok Sabha seats with smaller allies like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.Vijayakanth lashed out at the UPA Government, accusing it of not doing any thing to save the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Source:newstodaynet.com
HR man in DMDK candidate list; no headroom for Cong alliance
26 Mar 2009, 1927 hrs IST
CHENNAI: Human Resource managers who are back in limelight this recession, seem to have found themselves a political niche as well.
Ma Foi HR consulting MD Pandiarajan, who is an office bearer of the political party DMDK, lead by actor Vijayakanth, has been nominated by the party to contest in the LS elections from the Virudhunagar constituency in South Tamil Nadu. The party has been involved in employment livelihood camps, especially for the physically and socially challenged, in partnership with Ma Foi, in the past.
DMDK released its list of candidates in for nine constituencies, mainly in southern and central TN, on Thursday, fielding Mr. Pandiarajan as one of them.
The nine constituencies listed included Trichy, Salem, Kanyakumari, Madurai and Dindigul, where the congress and DMK have their strongholds. This is said to indicate a decisive action against any alliance with the DMK-lead DPA or the Congress in the polls. The other constituencies for which candidates were announced were Tirunelveli, Theni and Namakkal.
Poll observers say DMDK’s non-alignment will cost the other two major rival alliances in TN equally, by splitting votes, but not reaching a majority. In the south, Vijay Kanth is likely to garner votes that would normally go to the DMK, while DMDK would eat into PMK votes in the north.
Source:economictimes.indiatimes.com
CHENNAI: Human Resource managers who are back in limelight this recession, seem to have found themselves a political niche as well.
Ma Foi HR consulting MD Pandiarajan, who is an office bearer of the political party DMDK, lead by actor Vijayakanth, has been nominated by the party to contest in the LS elections from the Virudhunagar constituency in South Tamil Nadu. The party has been involved in employment livelihood camps, especially for the physically and socially challenged, in partnership with Ma Foi, in the past.
DMDK released its list of candidates in for nine constituencies, mainly in southern and central TN, on Thursday, fielding Mr. Pandiarajan as one of them.
The nine constituencies listed included Trichy, Salem, Kanyakumari, Madurai and Dindigul, where the congress and DMK have their strongholds. This is said to indicate a decisive action against any alliance with the DMK-lead DPA or the Congress in the polls. The other constituencies for which candidates were announced were Tirunelveli, Theni and Namakkal.
Poll observers say DMDK’s non-alignment will cost the other two major rival alliances in TN equally, by splitting votes, but not reaching a majority. In the south, Vijay Kanth is likely to garner votes that would normally go to the DMK, while DMDK would eat into PMK votes in the north.
Source:economictimes.indiatimes.com
Vijaykanth launches campaign, rules out electoral alliances
Vijaykanth launches campaign, rules out electoral alliances
Kanyakumari (IANS): Actor-politician Vijaykanth on Thursday told huge crowds that his DMDK party would not have any alliance with other political parties for the Lok Sabha polls and would prove it was a party to "reckon with".
Addressing supporters after launching his 42-day campaign from this town, Vijaykanth said: "Instead of having alliances with self-seeking political outfits that keep talking about 'deals' our party will prefer to align with god and you - the common public - whose verdict, to us, will be the endorsement from divinity."
"The DMDM neither believes in power nor alms of three or four parliamentary seats. My political future or personal fortunes were never in question even when my marriage hall was partly demolished in Chennai (in 2007)," Mr. Vijaykanth added.
Speaking to reporters earlier in Chennai after releasing his first list of nine candidates, the actor hoped his party would prove its credentials during the parliamentary polls.
He said: "Our party will prove to the Tamil masses that the DMDK is a power to reckon with in this state. We will appeal to our supporters to wholeheartedly work for their victory."
The DMDK candidates announced so far will be contesting from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni (all in southern Tamil Nadu), besides Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Namakkal (in the central part of the state).
Tamil Nadu will see elections for its 39 Lok Sabha seats May 13.
Source: hindu.com
Kanyakumari (IANS): Actor-politician Vijaykanth on Thursday told huge crowds that his DMDK party would not have any alliance with other political parties for the Lok Sabha polls and would prove it was a party to "reckon with".
Addressing supporters after launching his 42-day campaign from this town, Vijaykanth said: "Instead of having alliances with self-seeking political outfits that keep talking about 'deals' our party will prefer to align with god and you - the common public - whose verdict, to us, will be the endorsement from divinity."
"The DMDM neither believes in power nor alms of three or four parliamentary seats. My political future or personal fortunes were never in question even when my marriage hall was partly demolished in Chennai (in 2007)," Mr. Vijaykanth added.
Speaking to reporters earlier in Chennai after releasing his first list of nine candidates, the actor hoped his party would prove its credentials during the parliamentary polls.
He said: "Our party will prove to the Tamil masses that the DMDK is a power to reckon with in this state. We will appeal to our supporters to wholeheartedly work for their victory."
The DMDK candidates announced so far will be contesting from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni (all in southern Tamil Nadu), besides Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Namakkal (in the central part of the state).
Tamil Nadu will see elections for its 39 Lok Sabha seats May 13.
Source: hindu.com
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