Political parties launch last leg of campaign in Erode East

ERODE: With their time to remain in the Erode East assembly segment running out by Saturday evening, political parties have launched their last leg of the campaign.
Chief minister M K Stalin reached Erode on Friday night and is set to begin his campaign on Saturday morning, the last day of campaigning. AIADMK interim general secretary commenced his final leg of the campaign on Friday evening.

Buoyed by the Supreme Court verdict in his favour, EPS launched his attack on DMK and Congress with renewed vigour.
EPS alleged that DMK was threatening voters to vote for Congress candidate E V K S Elangovan.
"DMK men are saying that they will get to know who people voted for. Don't get intimidated by such threats. They will not know whom you voted for. So, without any fear, come out on February 27 and vote for us," he said while addressing the gathering at Edayankattuvalasu.
"Think well, do you need an MLA who will be by your side when there is a problem, to set right faulty streetlights, lay bad roads and help you every day or someone who will not even be in the constituency," he said.
EPS, who campaigned with AIADMK candidate K S Thennarasu atop his van, was given a rousing reception in all the places by party cadres. Touching upon various issues, from power tariff hikes to corruption and the alleged absence of infrastructure development, EPS urged voters to teach DMK a lesson in the byelection.
NTK chief Seeman, whose request for campaigning was not cleared on Thursday, managed to obtain permission on Friday and addressed the gathering. He said the DMK government was scared of surging support for NTK in Erode East and hence desperately trying to scuttle NTK's campaigns.
Stalin discussed with DMK ministers on the situation in Erode East. Though he was scheduled to campaign for two days, it was reduced to one day. He will campaign for Elangovan at Sampath Nagar, Gandhi Statue, Agraharam, Municipal Colony and Periyar Nagar in the constituency.
Meanwhile, ministers and party functionaries who came from outside Erode too intensified the campaign on Friday as they would have to leave the constituency by Saturday evening.