Jaya yorks Karuna on Tamil Nadu poll pitch

Innovation is key to success. And J Jayalalitha, the AIADMK chief who is also fondly called Amma by her supporters, has decided to ‘promote’ arch rival and DMK supremo M Karunanidhi and his men instead of her own party candidates.

Amma’s latest masterstroke: The figure “Rs 1.76 lakh crore” is being painted in bright colours on buses and trucks across the state wherever Jayalalitha is set to campaign — a brisk reminder to the voters of former union telecom minister and DMK’s A Raja’s alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The groundwork complete, Jayalalitha takes wings to reach her support base — Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Salem, Tirupur and Naamakkal, among others. After stepping out of the chopper, the AIADMK chief hops onto a modified van with a makeshift dais to hold public meetings.

The AIADMK is expecting to gain from Tamil Nadu’s western districts – a stronghold of the party – this time as well. In 2006, although the party got only 61 seats, the vote share stood at over 32 per cent, nearly six per cent more than the DMK which had formed the government with 163 seats.

While addressing mass gatherings, the fire-brand leader, launches a no-holds-bar attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, accusing him of running the state like a family enterprise and openly invading the “money making” businesses in the state.

Interestingly, Jayalalitha has so far not taken on the Congress government at the Centre directly but limited herself to Karunanidhi and his close aides.

With allies CPI(M) and CPI by her side, Jayalalitha promised the sea of supporters at the rally in Coimbatore that when her time comes, she would usher in a golden era in the state. But the list of benefits was only a reflection of the bitter rivalry between the ruling DMK and the main Opposition the AIADMK: The sops include solar-powered electricity, ceiling fans, mixer grinders, dosa mixers for house wives, laptops for students and cows and goats for farmers.

Captain Vijayakanth’s DMDK, with eight per cent vote share, has formed an alliance for the first time since its inception in 2005. The partnership is expected to further strengthen the alliance led by AIADMK. Vijaykanth, however, has not held any joint rally with Jayalalitha.

There is however no shortage of star attraction for Amma. Former cine star and ally Sarath Kumar has made sure be on her side on the stage as a show of strength before the elections.

A gentle wave by Jayalalitha or a glance in a certain direction creates a flutter among her supporters with cries of Jai Jai Jaya and Amma. Amused by the cheers, Jayalalitha often stops in between her speeches to calm them down and starts speaking when the pitch drops.

The party has also got MGR look-alikes to entertain the crowds before Jayalalitha arrives for a rally. Dressed in red and golden trousers and red shirts, the artists dance around the venue before Jayalalitha appears to address the gathering.

“We have modified the van for her and there is a hydraulic seat in the van that lifts so that she can speak to the public even while sitting. Amma cannot stand for long so she has to sit in the van while addressing the public,” said Mohamed Riaz, the owner of Ameco enterprises, who have had brisk business by modifying the vans of both Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi.