Chennai: With the Dharapuram Assembly by-election scheduled for October 6, Chief Minister Vijay addressed a TVK campaign meeting in Dharapuram on Wednesday in support of the party’s candidate, Sathyabama. The speech drew attention for a noticeable shift in strategy—starting with local issues and ending with a pointed political attack.
Vijay said the government was moving step by step to fulfil its promises and asserted that it was working to ensure corruption-free administration. He cited the closure of 717 TASMAC outlets located near schools and temples, and said households were being provided 200 units of free electricity.
Highlighting welfare and social measures, he said a special women’s safety force—“Singappen Special Rapid Force”—had been launched and 2,546 new posts created. He also referred to the expansion of the Kamarajar breakfast scheme for Classes 6 to 8, crop loan waivers for 13 lakh farmers, higher incentives for paddy, and an increase of Rs 6 per litre in milk procurement price.
He further listed initiatives such as the “Thaymaman gold ring” scheme being implemented from September 28, free travel for women in government buses from October 2, and the “Annapoorna Super Six” plan to provide three gas cylinders a year from Pongal. Vijay said the Chief Minister’s comprehensive health insurance cover had been raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, and a new scheme offering free treatment for 38 lakh senior citizens aged above 70 had been introduced.
Towards the end, Vijay criticised both the DMK and the AIADMK, alleging that the AIADMK had moved from being a “branch” of the BJP to becoming a “division” of the DMK. He also defended Sathyabama’s move to resign her post and join TVK, rejecting allegations of political bargaining and saying public support mattered more than such claims.
