Polling tomorrow as heated campaign in Vikravandi ends

VILLUPURAM: On the last day of electioneering on Monday for the Vikravandi bypoll, chief minister M K Stalin appealed to the electorate to vote for DMK. The bypoll will be held on July 10. Earlier, he had released a video urging the people to teach a befitting lesson to the parties that betray social justice.
In a statement issued on Monday, Stalin, who did not visit Vikravandi to campaign, listed out the achievements of the DMK govt in the constituency in the three years since assuming power.Aiming to woo the vanniyar voters in their stronghold constituency, Stalin said the govt proposed to construct a memorial at 5.7 crore in Villupuram for 21 people who lost their lives in police firing during a protest demanding reservation for backward classes in 1987.
Similarly, the govt proposed to construct a manimandapam at an estimated cost of 4 crore for A Govindasamy, the late vanniyar leader and agriculture minister in the cabinet of chief ministers Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, he said.
Though 29 candidates are in the fray, the real fight is between DMK and PMK. The constituency witnessed intense campaigns by DMK, PMK and NTK functionaries. More than a dozen DMK ministers and scores of party functionaries from various districts camped here to ensure the party’s victory.
The bypoll is seen as a test for the ruling party after the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed 65 lives, including six women, and left more than 150 hospitalised. The votes will be counted on July 13 and the results will be declared the same day. The seat fell vacant after DMK MLA N Pugazhenthi, 69, passed away in April after a prolonged illness.
Meanwhile, Puducherry deputy commissioner (excise) M Mathew Francis in a circular said all bars, restaurants and hotels serving liquor, arrack and toddy shops in Mannadipet commune along the Puducherry-Tamil Nadu border must remain closed from July 8 to 10 on account of the Vikravandi bypoll. The shops must remain closed on the counting day too, he said in the release.