Vote for AIADMK as if I'm contesting, appeals Jayalalithaa

Chennai, Feb 11: AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa on Wednesday appealed to voters in Srirangam to support her party in the February 13 byelection "as if she was contesting herself" and contended the situation that necessitated the bypoll was caused by "conspirators" who couldn't tolerate the swelling support of the people.

"Srirangam is my motherland. Srirangam is my own home. Srirangam is the sacred place, where my ancestors lived for many generations. That's why Srirangam has a special relation, which is mixed in my heartbeat," Jayalalithaa said in a statement.

Jayalalithaa, whose election from Srirangam was nullified following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case by a special court at Bengaluru in September last year, said, "The situation that necessitated for a bypoll in Srirangam was caused by conspirators who could not tolerate the swelling support of the people."

"In order to encourage me in my efforts, not only should you give the party a huge margin better than in the past Assembly and Parliamentary polls, but ensure that opponents lose their deposit too," she appealed.

Thanking the electorate for the support to the party in 2011 Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, she said, "Whenever the 'two leaves' is contesting from any constituency, Tamil voters would cast their vote for AIADMK as if I am contesting from that place. I request all voters in Srirangam to cast your vote to AIADMK assuming as if I am contesting."

"Every vote that you cast for AIADMK Srirangam bypoll candidate S Valarmathi would be considered as a vote that you gave me. So, vote for AIADMK and make it win, as if I am contesting myself," she added.

AIADMK, BJP and DMK are among the 29 contestants in the fray. Meanwhile in Srirangam town, AIADMK and DMK workers engaged in a wordy duel but timely intervention by police prevented a major clash, police said.

A large number of DMK workers had gathered in to welcome their leader M.K.Stalin,when a group of AIADMK activists arrived at the same venue.

There was wordy duel between the rival groups,and before they could come to blows, police asked the AIADMK workers to proceed on some other route.

Police also seized 150 "Biriyani" packets, which some partymen planned to distribute to local workers. Campaigning for the bypoll ended today.

PTI