C Shivakumar
Chennai:
In the heart of city, amidst the blaring of loudspeakers lies a group of makeshift pavement dwellings, and one of these belong to Logammal, who is aspiring to become a local corporator from ward number 59.
Living in this pavement dwelling, which encroaches government property for the last 40 years, Logammal and her husband Anand Babu have earned enough to meet their ends but they still are homeless and live in this makeshift dwelling in the pavement.
“We have two shops, a fast food joint and a shop which we are using as a party office,” says Anandbabu, who is the brain behind his wife’s campaign, and stays in Parrys.
And he does not want to leave the place like others despite being served notice from the Chennai Corporation as his livelihood is dependent on the two shops he owns.
The ward, which Logammal is contesting from DMDK ticket lies in the ward near Parrys and has a population of 11,000. It has 1,000 pavement dwellers. They consist of rickshaw pullers, flower sellers and others doing menial jobs or running small time businesses.
A fan of actor Vijaykanth, Logammal was an active member in DMDK leader’s fanclub Thavasi, and got the ticket three times and lost all the time. Now she is banking on her popularity among the pavement dwellers but the biggest challenge for her is to muster the other 10,000 votes. To a query on how she will be able to wean away that votebank, she grasps for answers. He husband pitches in diplomatically stating that the area, which has a sizable population of Marwaris will back Logammal as people are fed up of Congress and DMK corporators who ruled for 10 years respectively.
The marwari associations, which is backed by north Indian traders, are backing us, claims Anandbabu. But when asked why would they back him, he says his is the only party which is not demanding money from traders. Then he adds that if the elections are held peacefully and honestly, then Logammal has a chance.
No comments:
Post a Comment