Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami has said that R.K. Nagar in Chennai would prosper on many counts only if the ruling AIADMK candidate Madhusudanan wins the upcoming by-polls.

“No use if DMK won the polls as we are the ruling party and are in a position to do everything possible for the constituency’s welfare,” the chief-minister observed while addressing a public meeting at R.K. Nagar yesterday ahead of the Assembly by-polls to be held on 21st December (next Thursday) to choose a successor to former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa who had represented the constituency twice in the Assembly.

Chief-minister Edapadi Palaniswami and deputy chief-minister O. Panneerselvam visited Korukkupet KNS Depot, Gummalamman Koil Street in Tondiarpet and a few other places as they campaigned in favour of party candidate Madhusudanan, who was the MLA from R.K. Nagar from 1991-96. “Stalin did nothing for R.K. Nagar during his days as Chennai Mayor; it was only our ‘Puratchithalaivi’ Jayalalithaa who bothered to undertake several developmental activities in R.K. Nagar.

“How can Stalin hope to ‘transform’ R.K. Nagar when he is not in power; R.K. Nagar can register all-round development only if the ruling AIADMK wins.  DMK’s victory would only increase their strength in the Assembly but won’t benefit the people of the constituency. Dinakaran is contesting only to split AIADMK’s votes; he is the one who is responsible for all the confusion which reigned in the AIADMK in the past,” he said.

When he spoke, deputy chief-minister O. Panneerselvam said that 55,000 homeless people would get new homes constructed for them if they voted for the AIADMK. “Puratchithalaivi Jayalalithaa’s scheme of giving of two-wheelers to women at a subsidized cost would soon be launched in R.K. Nagar,” he announced.