TIRUPUR: Farmers held protests when TVK candidate for the Oct 6 Dharapuram bypoll V Sathyabama went to Veruvedampalayam village on Monday seeking votes. They questioned her over her alleged failure to secure water for the Uppar dam from the Parambikulam Aliyar Project this year. They also protested what they called the TVK govt’s failure to waive farm loans fully as the party had promised in its election manifesto.With protests intensifying, Sathyabama left the spot without continuing her campaign.The bypoll was necessitated after Sathyabama, who had won the assembly election from the constituency on an AIADMK ticket, resigned and joined TVK.The bypoll has turned into an unusually charged political battle, with sharp local reactions shaping the campaign trail. DMK is confident of a “big victory,” citing public discontent over power cuts and price rise.Party president M K Stalin will campaign in Dharapuram on Oct 2 for its candidate, S Suganya. Party youth wing secretary and leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin is scheduled to campaign in the constituency on Sept 27. Former ministers and election in-charges K N Nehru and M P Saminathan told reporters that DMK deputy general secretary and Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi would campaign on Sept 28.Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) president Premallatha Vijayakanth would campaign for the DMK candidate, Saminathan added.Nehru targeted the rival camp over resignation and re-contesting. He demanded clarity on the reasons for the resignation while noting that several others continued in the same party.
