AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today launched her campaign for the May 16 Assembly election by highlighting her government's performance and sought votes to continue what she called "such remarkable achievements."
Launching her election campaign at the Island Grounds here, she said her government had fulfilled all the poll promises made in her party's manifesto in 2011.
She listed out freebie schemes like distribution of mixies, grinders, milch cows, goats, and ending power cuts.
"Even schemes that you did not imagine were implemented like Amma canteen, Amma cement, Amma salt, pharmacies, farm fresh outlets and Amma maternity sanjeevi scheme.
"Do you remember those days of long power cuts which affected students and the industries," she said, adding that now TN has attained self-sufficiency in power production and there is uninterrupted power supply to all user segments to continue such remarkable, great achievements vote for AIADMK.
She said many such schemes would be implemented if her government is voted to power again.
A beaming Jayalalithaa flashed the party's two leaves symbol as soon as she arrived to a rousing welcome by party workers and said her life is dedicated for the growth and joy of the people.
The stage for the first mega public meeting was adorned with a giant two-leaves image of AIADMK, with a portrait of Jayalalithaa in the middle. A flex board with her image alongside party founder M G Ramachandran formed the backdrop to the meeting.
The well-lit venue with colourful lights was decorated with cut-outs (flex-boards) of Jayalalithaa.
Earlier, she was given a rousing welcome by party workers and supporters who flocked both sides of the roads to greet her. While some had "poornakumbam" on their hands (coconut in a pot laced with mango leaves, a symbol of goodness and victory), others waved flags of AIADMK.
Jayalalithaa's first rally for the coming poll and her address was telecast live in all 21 constituencies in and around Chennai in as many as 75 specially designed propaganda vans of the AIADMK with giant LED screens.
Such vans were stationed in vantage locations like markets and busy intersections as early as in the morning.
The screens flashed the achievements of the AIADMK regime and also ran old popular film songs of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
In her 41-minute speech, Jayalalithaa addressed the people
by sitting on a chair on the stage.
Targetting opposition for attacking her regime over the last year's floods, she reiterated what her government had done for the flood-hit and over effective flood relief work.
She cited disbursement of flood relief worth Rs 658.42 crore in Chennai, Rs 330.63 crore in Tiruvallur and Rs 51.68 crore towards other relief work in the two districts.
"There was no epidemic. That itself is a big achievement. Not only I am saying this, even the Central panel has said this in its report to the Union government," she said, adding that it was the heaviest rains seen in over 100 years.
Uttering her catch phrase of "I am here (in this position) because of you, and I am for you (people)," she also invoked the name of party founder MGR and sought votes for two-leaves.
"My ascetic life is dedicated for you, my work is for your uplift and your joy is my goal," she said to thunderous applause.
Listing out her government's "achievements", she said her regime was the golden period for women.
She said how she had brought in 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies in Tamil Nadu and went on to narrate welfare schemes including "gold for mangalsutra" and marriage cash assistance.
Stating that "law and order is very good" she said, "Chennai is a very safe city, Chennai is the most safe metropolis in the entire country and more importantly safe for women, and I am not saying this. Centre's study says this. An all-India study says this."
Mentioning schemes including Comprehensive Medical Insurance scheme, freebies like mixies, laptop for students, and textile parks she said, all the poll promises made in 2011 were fulfilled.
Among the slew of development works she listed in Chennai include Metro Rail, drinking water schemes, desalination plants, and cleaning up of Cooum River all worth many hundreds of crores.
"Don't think that it is only this much, there are lot many other schemes that has been done and currently on," she said. "Not one day will be enough to spell out details of the development works, at least one week will be needed. Our rivals will faint at that and you will be happy.
