It is nobody’s business when or how many times I meet my people, says Vijay

The scorching afternoon heat did not deter the supporters of TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at the roadshow in Dharapuram (SC) on Sunday, the final day of campaigning for the byelection.

Sporting bandanas and scarves, scores of school and college-going boys and girls, a number of them waiting with their parents, besides youths and the elderly, were seen rooting for Mr. Vijay as his convoy passed through. And, an equally-enthusiastic Mr. Vijay could also be seen waving to the crowd. The supporters had come hours ahead from across Dharapuram (SC) constituency and from places, including Vellakovil and Pollachi, to catch a glimpse of the Chief Minister. Mr. Vijay reached Dharapuram from the Coimbatore airport in a helicopter.

Addressing his supporters, Mr. Vijay hit back at his detractors over their reported criticism of his frequent visits to Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies as they are about to go to polls. “I am not the one visiting constituencies only during elections. It is nobody’s business when or how many times I meet my people,” he said.

Mr. Vijay questioned the “impudence” of DMK president M.K. Stalin in body-shaming P. Sathyabama, his party’s candidate for Dharapuram (SC) constituency. “I can put up with such comments, but I will never tolerate disrespect to women,” he said, observing that insulting women had been the DMK’s wont right from the days when M.G. Ramachandran was the Chief Minister.

Voters will teach a fitting lesson to the father-son duo (Mr. Stalin and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin) for their “obscene” comments, Mr. Vijay asserted, and claimed that the DMK had already conceded defeat.

Throughout the roadshow, Mr. Vijay hopped down from his campaign van at several places amid heavy security cover. At one point, he took a short ride on a bullock cart, and at another, the Chief Minister stopped to receive a petition from an aggrieved supporter.

He also interacted with drumstick farmers in Mulanur and took cognisance of their long-time demand for a cold storage plant for value-addition and listened to the grievances of livestock farmers.

Mr. Vijay offered prayers at the Mulanur Vanjiamman Temple before resuming his campaign on his way back to the helipad.