AIADMK in poll-mode; to target youth through e-age technology

CHENNAI: Ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has put its various wings in poll mode with a special thrust on wooing young voters through social media and IT power as it gears for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with the ambition of strengthening the position of supremo Jayalalithaa.


In a bid to realise its goal of bagging all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone in neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry and strengthen Jayalalithaa's hands, the party has drawn up elaborate plans eyeing to repeat its spectacular victory in the assembly polls two years ago.

Targeting the first-time voters as being done by parties such as BJP which is harping on its 'Modi youth connect', AIADMK's youth outfits -- student and youth wings are all set to reach out to the young electorate by launching a campaign through SMS.

The youth wing has decided to use all of the e-age technology to better connect with the masses and particularly the youth, party sources said.

Jayalalithaa, who scripted a landslide victory in the 2011 assembly polls inflicting a humiliating defeat on DMK which ended up in the third spot after DMDK, has already made it clear that her party would go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls.

Setting the agenda at the party's general council as early as December last itself, she has been exhorting the partymen to keep up the momentum and ensure that AIADMK wins all the 40 seats for a key role for herself at the national level, which has sparked growing cries of "Amma for PM" by her followers.

"If a daring and mighty person capable of solving the country's problems should become the Prime Minister, it is none other than Purathchi Thalaivi [revolutionary leader] Amma. We vow to secure victory in all the 40 constituencies and place it before her," said a resolution adopted by the party's students' and youth wing on September 25.

Party sources said the campaign would focus on Jayalalithaa's 'visionary' welfare schemes in the last two years, and the 'importance' of voting for AIADMK to address Tamil Nadu's burning issues including the vexed issue of attack on fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Naval personnel.

It would also highlight the "betrayal" of Tamil Nadu's interests by the Central Government. As part of its campaign efforts, the party's youth wing will intensify efforts to enrol new members.

Giving an insight into the preparations, Party sources said campaign meetings christened "Pallandu Pesum Irandandu Sathanai (the achievements made in two years that will be talked for many years) would be held throughout the state.

The party has enlisted the services of popular Tamil film actors and comedian Singamuthu for the campaign work.

The student's wing is to embark on a campaign trail highlighting the achievements of the Jayalalithaa Government among the higher secondary students and their parents while the MGR Youth Wing would hold propaganda meetings.

The party would also seek to drive home its message that only a bold person like Jayalalithaa could be a panacea for the ills of the nation be it the economy, foreign policy or anything else.

The campaign thrust would be that Jayalalithaa would ensure Tamil Nadu gets justice in life line issues like Mullaiperiyar, Cauvery, Katchatheevu and "harassment" of fishermen at the hands of Sri Lankan Naval personnel.

Accusing the Centre of neglecting Tamil Nadu's legitimate rights, AIADMK Rajya Sabha member V Maithreyan said a person from Tamil Nadu must become the Prime Minister to find a solution for this problem.

"No doubt, a Chief Minister will become the Prime Minister. That CM will not be from the West, but from the Southern State of Tamil Nadu," he asserted.

"That Puratchi Thalaivi Amma should become the Prime Minister is the passion of each and every AIADMK worker and that is the expectation of the people of Tamil Nadu also," he claimed.

AIADMK began the work for the Lok Sabha elections last year itself by constituting a committee headed by party treasurer and Finance Minister O Panneerselvam for deliberations with party functionaries in all Parliamentary constituencies.

On September 16 last, Jayalalithaa has announced poll managers for all the 40 constituencies. Ministers, MPs and all important functionaries of all party forums of the AIADMK have been given election-related works.