Tiruppur: Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigned in Udumalpet of Tiruppur district on Friday, seeking votes for DMK candidates M. Jayakumar, contesting in Udumalpet, and R. Jayaram Krishnan, contesting in Madathukulam constituency.
Tiruppur: Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK Youth Wing Secretary and Deputy Chief Minister, is on a campaign spree across the Kongu belt. Earlier, he launched his campaign in Kangeyam and has been intensely canvassing support for candidates in Udumalpet and Madathukulam constituencies of Tiruppur district.
Addressing a mass gathering, Udhayanidhi Stalin said Tiruppur district must prove once again that it is a stronghold of the DMK. He noted that Tiruppur, known for its factories, workers and industries, stands as a model for the whole of Tamil Nadu.
He said that although Udumalpet does not currently have a DMK MLA, several development works had still been carried out in the region. Citing these works, he said he had come to seek votes with that sense of entitlement and trust. He listed projects including a new intensive care unit worth Rs 20 crore and a separate building worth Rs 3 crore for accident and emergency treatment at the Udumalpet Government Hospital.
He further said statues worth Rs 4 crore had been installed for leaders responsible for the formation of the PAP irrigation scheme, a new ITI had been established at a cost of Rs 8 crore, a new bus stand had been built for Rs 3 crore, and new tar roads worth Rs 8 crore had been laid in Kudimangalam union.
He added that a modern knowledge centre had been built at a cost of Rs 2 crore, a veterinary medical college and research centre had been established in Pannai Kinaru panchayat, and two additional buildings had been constructed at the government primary health centre in Kanjampatti.
Udhayanidhi also said a district revenue officer had been appointed to rectify zero-value issues relating to inam lands in Tiruppur district and that issues concerning temple lands would also be resolved.
Referring to demands for Pollachi to be made a separate district, he said the request would be considered and appropriate action would be taken after consulting M. K. Stalin.
Speaking about welfare schemes, he said the Chief Minister’s first signature after assuming office was for the Vidiyal Payanam scheme. He added that the government had implemented the breakfast scheme, provided educational assistance to 14 lakh students moving from school to college, distributed free laptops to 10 lakh college students, and granted monthly assistance to 1.31 crore women.
He alleged that the AIADMK-BJP alliance had attempted to stop the women’s rights assistance scheme by citing the election and had even approached the court. However, he said the Chief Minister ensured that assistance for February, March, April and an additional summer instalment totalling Rs 5,000 had been credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts at 6.30 am.
He claimed women withdrew the money by 9 am fearing the Modi government might seize it by citing insufficient bank balances.
Making election promises, he said that if the Dravidian Model government returns to power, the women’s assistance amount would be increased to Rs 2,000, the breakfast scheme would be extended up to Class 8, educational assistance would be raised to Rs 1,500, old age pension would be increased to Rs 2,000, free laptops would be given to 35 lakh students over the next five years, 10 lakh houses would be built under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme, and housewives would receive coupons worth Rs 8,000.
While he was speaking, members of the public reportedly shouted asking for a “photo.” Responding, Udhayanidhi said he understood what they were asking for and added that they must ensure the victory of Jayakumar and Jayaram Krishnan if they wanted to see it.
Addressing a mass gathering, Udhayanidhi Stalin said Tiruppur district must prove once again that it is a stronghold of the DMK. He noted that Tiruppur, known for its factories, workers and industries, stands as a model for the whole of Tamil Nadu.
He said that although Udumalpet does not currently have a DMK MLA, several development works had still been carried out in the region. Citing these works, he said he had come to seek votes with that sense of entitlement and trust. He listed projects including a new intensive care unit worth Rs 20 crore and a separate building worth Rs 3 crore for accident and emergency treatment at the Udumalpet Government Hospital.
He further said statues worth Rs 4 crore had been installed for leaders responsible for the formation of the PAP irrigation scheme, a new ITI had been established at a cost of Rs 8 crore, a new bus stand had been built for Rs 3 crore, and new tar roads worth Rs 8 crore had been laid in Kudimangalam union.
He added that a modern knowledge centre had been built at a cost of Rs 2 crore, a veterinary medical college and research centre had been established in Pannai Kinaru panchayat, and two additional buildings had been constructed at the government primary health centre in Kanjampatti.
Udhayanidhi also said a district revenue officer had been appointed to rectify zero-value issues relating to inam lands in Tiruppur district and that issues concerning temple lands would also be resolved.
Referring to demands for Pollachi to be made a separate district, he said the request would be considered and appropriate action would be taken after consulting M. K. Stalin.
Speaking about welfare schemes, he said the Chief Minister’s first signature after assuming office was for the Vidiyal Payanam scheme. He added that the government had implemented the breakfast scheme, provided educational assistance to 14 lakh students moving from school to college, distributed free laptops to 10 lakh college students, and granted monthly assistance to 1.31 crore women.
He alleged that the AIADMK-BJP alliance had attempted to stop the women’s rights assistance scheme by citing the election and had even approached the court. However, he said the Chief Minister ensured that assistance for February, March, April and an additional summer instalment totalling Rs 5,000 had been credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts at 6.30 am.
He claimed women withdrew the money by 9 am fearing the Modi government might seize it by citing insufficient bank balances.
Making election promises, he said that if the Dravidian Model government returns to power, the women’s assistance amount would be increased to Rs 2,000, the breakfast scheme would be extended up to Class 8, educational assistance would be raised to Rs 1,500, old age pension would be increased to Rs 2,000, free laptops would be given to 35 lakh students over the next five years, 10 lakh houses would be built under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme, and housewives would receive coupons worth Rs 8,000.
While he was speaking, members of the public reportedly shouted asking for a “photo.” Responding, Udhayanidhi said he understood what they were asking for and added that they must ensure the victory of Jayakumar and Jayaram Krishnan if they wanted to see it.