At 82, Durai Murugan is the DMK’s warhorse. Having fought his first election in 1971, he’s in his fiftieth yr of electoral politics. In his sizzling and dusty hometown Katpadi, Murugan begins campaigning by 8 am and may go on the whole day: masking a brand new avenue nook, a brand new village chowk each 10 to fifteen minutes. His speeches are barely 10 minutes lengthy. He sits down underneath shamianas to make a speech once in a while, age exhibiting its impact. And he goes straight to the purpose — his promise this election is to carry an excellent speciality hospital and a separate Sipcot (industrial space) to carry jobs to the locals.
He is aware of that’s a giant demand of the locals. Barely 130 kilometres from Chennai, this city has grown quickly in improvement parameters. Since it’s simply alongside the freeway to Bengaluru, it additionally has good roads and accommodations, infrastructure that not many different cities can boast of.
Employment alternatives, notably for graduates, are one thing that’s on everybody’s minds.
“Our children have all studied up to tenth or twelfth. But they have no jobs. In this street, not a single person has ever got a government job,” says a girl residing within the space.
Her neighbour provides, “With difficulty, we have educated them with our earnings as daily wagers. There are even some graduates but with no job opportunities how will they stand on their own feet?”
Murugan, it appears, is aware of what promise sells each election. “I know each and everyone in my constituency. I can call them by name too,” he says, whereas observing that his opposing candidate is an outsider from a constituency about 30 kilometres away.
The DMK veteran has the extra benefit of being from the Vanniyar neighborhood, which is dominant on this area. Generation after technology has voted for him.
Asked in regards to the criticism that he by no means makes method for kids, Murugan says he’s prepared to take action, however “they” (his celebration) are compelling him to proceed one other time period. He provides, “Till my last breath I will fight elections.”
Durai Murugan’s rival within the constituency is V Ramu, an engineer who’s combating his first meeting election. “During the pandemic, yours was an MLA who went away with his family to the hills for a vacation instead of helping people,” he thunders in his marketing campaign speech.
The AIADMK, which has fielded him, has been talking out in opposition to the DMK on two most important points throughout Tamil Nadu — that of not serving to in the course of the pandemic and that of perpetuating dynastic politics.
In Katpadi, these are each points that Ramu plans to take advantage of to the utmost — Murugan’s son Kathir Anand, in any case, is the MP from the identical district, Vellore.
“One family occupies all positions in DMK, but in AIADMK it’s not like that. Even a small, root-level cadre can get to a big position,” he tells News18. He additionally says that the AIADMK authorities’s grant of an inside quota for Vanniyars simply earlier than the elections — and its tie-up with the Vanniyar-based celebration, the Pattali Makkal Katchi — could assist him sort out the caste tangle.
Murugan’s repartee to that’s fast: “What about O Panneerselvam’s family (deputy CM and AIADMK party chief coordinator) and D Jayakumar’s (minister in the AIADMK government) family? And go to Uttar Pradesh; what happens there? What about Bihar? Everyone points fingers at DMK only.”
On the streets of the bustling city, its residents are caught up with different, bigger points.
“Diesel rates must come down,” says a rickshaw driver, whereas one other says he’s bored with forgotten guarantees. “We will vote based on who gives us good laws,” he says. “It must be clear. Not idle promises.”
