Salem: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met candidates from all 11 assembly constituencies in Salem district on Friday, appreciating them for their election work. EPS also had a discussion with functionaries of alliance parties from Salem and spoke to AIADMK seniors over phone, before leaving for Chennai in the evening.
While AIADMK men said there were no political meetings scheduled for EPS in Chennai, there could be informal meetings with party leaders in the capital. 'There was no plan to visit Chennai till Friday morning. The evening visit was unscheduled,' said an AIADMK functionary. EPS might also visit a temple in the next couple of days, AIADMK men said.
Salem district recorded about 90 percent polling. AIADMK leaders said they were optimistic that the high turnout could favour them. PMK's Salem West candidate M Karthi and PMK's Salem North candidate S Sadasivam were also among those who met EPS.
Speaking to reporters, Sadasivam said voters wanted a change in government and had therefore voted in large numbers for AIADMK and its allies. He said the alliance's election promises and the joint campaign by Palaniswami and Anbumani Ramadoss played a crucial role in getting a large number of voters to cast their votes.
BJP state vice president K P Ramalingam who called on EPS, said the high turnout in the Kongu region reflected the support for EPS. He added that even if votes were split in some constituencies, AIADMK would still form the government. 'EPS will assume office as CM after May 4,' he said.
On the conduct of the election, Ramalingam said the Election Commission had largely ensured that the polling was conducted without major violations, but alleged that it failed to stop the 'flow of money' during the polls. He alleged that officials seized cash from ordinary people but did not act in a similar manner against money transported by politicians.
