Chennai: True to the Leftist style, CPI(M) candidate from North Chennai U Vasuki sips tea at a local shop in one of the narrow lanes of the congested part of the bustling metropolis and hops around meeting voters of various hues in her bid to become the first woman MP from this Lok Sabha segment.
Interestingly, she is the only woman candidate in the fray in all three constituencies in Chennai--North, Central and South till date, and perhaps only the second from the fairer sex to have been fielded ever in elections to this segment, which has mix of fishermen, small and big traders and factory workers among others.
Daughter of senior CPI(M) leaders R Umanath and Pappa Umanath, Vasuki has her task cut out as she has to face two heavyweights of Tamil Nadu politics - DMK and AIADMK, besides actor-politician Vijayakant's DMDK which is part of a six-party coalition.
But the 57 year-old former bank employee seems to have taken the challenge in her stride, banking on the pro-people initiatives by her party's elected representatives, with Perambur, one of the Assembly constituencies under North Chennai, returning CPI(M) MLAs for successive terms.
"CPI(M) has spearheaded movements on a number of issues, including the vexed solid waste management at Kodungayur, bringing some relief to people. The party has also been in the forefront in issues like land acquisition for road projects and we are not new face to the voters here," Vasuki said. These will convert into votes, the National Vice-President of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), said.
She points out to DMK shifting its incumbent MP TKS Elangovan to South Chennai Lok Sabha segment this time and claims this was a significant move. When the discussion turns to the two Left parties walking out of AIADMK alliance over seat-sharing, Vasuki admits that an alliance always adds to the strength of a candidate. "Even our alliance with AIADMK was for a non-Congress, non-BJP combine post elections. But we will now ask why (AIADMK supremo) J Jayalalithaa is not attacking BJP and what is their agenda," she said.
Vasuki, the party's Central Committee member, sets off on her campaign early in the morning, meeting people from all walks of life and has been interacting with the locals on a slew of issues. Based on them, her priority will be on developing infrastructure, focus on solid waste management, striving for more educational institutions, work to bring safe drinking water and last of all address unemployment.
Besides reaching people through social media platform also, Vasuki intends to use something unique to North Chennai--'Gaana'-- a colloquial song appealing to the masses, to boost her chances and is all set to unveil her promotional material soon. Further, another Left initiative, the street-drama troupes, are also aiding in her effort.
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