Tamil Nadu suffered a lot when DMK was in power: Jayalalithaa

AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa said on Wednesday that people had “suffered a lot” in the previous DMK government and urged voters to give her party a successive term in the May 16 polls as the her party-led government had ensured a “spring” for them in the last five years.

Jayalalithaa visited all the 16 assembly constituencies in Chennai and mounted an offensive against her party’s arch rival at Kolathur, from where DMK treasurer M K Stalin is seeking another term.

“In the previous DMK government, you had suffered a lot. Nobody can forget the power cut situation prevailing then, nor the suffering of the people. There was 10-15 hours of power cut due to which students could not study and the entire Tamil Nadu was in darkness,” she said.

While law and order had “collapsed”, properties were grabbed or encroached upon during the DMK government of 2006-11, Jayalalithaa said.

“But the AIADMK government has given you spring. Tamil Nadu is no more facing power cuts. Law and order is well maintained and police is promptly acting on land-grab charges,” she said.

Fora “spring to continue”, people have to vote for AIADMK, Jayalalithaa said.

The AIADMK general secretary had made power cuts and land encroachment allegations against DMK leaders, including former ministers, a key poll issue in 2011, where she led her party to a massive win.