Jaya plays sister card, seeks bigger margin in her constituency

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday sought to strike an emotional chord with the voters of her R K Nagar constituency, saying they "are my breath", and sought a successive term to serve them after the coming elections.

In her campaign at R K Nagar in Chennai, she described herself as the people's "beloved sister" and sought a mandate bigger than the last one -- during the bye-poll post her acquittal in a disproportionate assets case by Karnataka high court.

"You are my breath. Give me a chance to serve you again. Vote for (AIADMK's symbol) two leaves and hand me a grand victory," she said.

Jayalalithaa said "I am for people, and because of people," and said both the voters and herself had "great faith" in each other.

The chief minister said she had been earlier elected by the people to defeat "adharma, opportunism," and asked them to repeat the same.

She said the people, who had "given me a grand win" in the 2015 bye-poll, were etched in her heart and that their "beloved sister" was once again seeking her electoral fortunes from the city constituency.

Her government was committed for people's welfare and many development schemes had been implemented, she said.

During the 'unprecedented rain' in November and December last year which resulted in a deluge, she had visited the constituency and directed speedy relief work, she recalled.

As a result, relief work was taken up on war-footing and affected families were immediately moved to schools where food was provided. As many as 97,000 families were provided with Rs 48 crore worth of assistance, Jayalalithaa said.

After her party assumed power in 2011, R K Nagar had been provided with various schemes including drinking water and drainage projects, much more than what the earlier DMK government had done, she said.

Rs 320 crore of infrastructure projects and Rs 23 crore worth drinking water and drainage schemes had been delivered to the constituency, she said while promising more welfare measures if voted to a "grand victory" in the ensuing polls.

Jayalalithaa listed out salient features of the party's manifesto released on Thursday, such as 50 per cent subsidy for women to buy scooter/moped, hike in monthly dole for fishermen during fishing period, free 100 units of power for all and free mobile phones to all ration card holders and sought votes for her.