News Tamil Nadu

“If Anyone Comes Asking For Votes, We Will Hit Them With Stones”, Women In Karaikudi Protest Campaign By Congress Leader Chidambaram

April 2, 2024
The Commune

During this Lok Sabha 2024 season, it’s heartening to witness the electorate’s heightened awareness and courage as they question politicians seeking votes. This reflects a robust mindset, with voters inclined to choose promising candidates over those who previously failed to deliver. There’s a noticeable shift towards evaluating candidates based on their election agendas rather than mere symbolic affiliations.

The aforementioned assertion holds true as it was evidenced by the strong protest and questioning directed at former Union Minister P Chidambaram when he campaigned for his son, Karti Chidambaram, a Congress candidate and the current Member of Parliament representing Sivaganga. This incident occurred notably in the Karaikudi region, where female voters expressed their dissatisfaction and raised pointed queries, leading to Chidambaram’s prompt departure from the campaign trail.

During P Chidambaram’s campaign visit to Mithravayal village near Karaikudi on 1 April 2024, a disgruntled woman voiced her protest, expressing frustration that Karthi Chidambaram hadn’t visited the constituency in the past five years and implying that P Chidambaram shouldn’t canvass either.

Responding from atop a jeep, P Chidambaram asserted his right to speak,  “I have the right to speak. You also have the right to speak. First I will speak. Then you speak.”

Despite this, when the woman persisted in speaking out, P Chidambaram suggested that she be given a platform within a political party in the upcoming election. The tense exchange took place against the backdrop of a tragedy in the village, where three people had recently died from consuming alcohol. Further highlighted this tragedy, criticizing the lack of response, “You can’t remove TASMAC shops, three people from the same house have died of drinking. A lot of people get drunk and don’t go to work, my son didn’t get a job. Please answer our questions properly, Karthi has not come to the constituency till now. What did you do for the constituency? The hospital facility that existed 40 years ago does not exist anymore. Not even a hospital is here. From now on, no one should come here asking for votes. We won’t vote for Congress. If anyone comes, we will hit them with stones.”

The video capturing the woman’s impassioned speech during P. Chidambaram’s campaign event quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread discussion and debate.

(with inputs from Dinamalar)

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