Stalin set about making a Rockfort vision statement, aimed at capturing Fort St George

A vast carpet of sparkling red covering acres and acres of land near the Samayapuram tollgate on the Tiruchi highway, welcomes the leaders and cadres of the DMK who have arrived here to attend the party conference, to be held on Sunday evening. .

At one end of the hall is a huge platform with a ramp designed as the symbol of the rising sun of the DMK. The podium, open space filled with red chairs, audio systems and giant LED screens made the entire conference venue look like an event performed by a rock star.

“We used modern technology to reach the people during the elections. You can see this kind of arrangement only in northern India. The LEDs are 500 feet long and the executives will feel like they are standing close to their leader (MKStalin), ”said former Minister E.Ve. Hairy.

There are larger-than-life cutouts of the leaders of the Dravidian movement, Periyar EV Ramasamy, CN Annadurai, Mr. Karunanidhi, and party chairman MK Stalin. Cutouts of the youth wing secretary Udhyanidhi Stalin with Mr. Stalin are also visible in two places. Party flags dot the road along the conference venue every 50 feet.

The podium, open space filled with red chairs, audio systems and giant LED screens made the entire conference venue look like an event performed by a rockstar | Photo credit: B. Kolappan

Braving the scorching sun and sweltering heat, revelers make their way to where Mr. Stalin will issue a 10-year vision statement for Tamil Nadu. Members of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), an electoral strategy organization, oversee the event’s arrangements.

Tiruchi holds a special place in Mr. Stalin’s political career. At the 10th State Conference here in 2014, Mr. Stalin witnessed his emergence as the undisputed leader of the party after his father.

“The conference is unique because a political party leader unveils a 10-year vision statement. Same [former Prime Minister] Jawaharlal Nehru was only considering a five-year plan, ”said former Union Minister A. Raja.

Asked about the need for a vision statement when the party prepared an election manifesto, Mr Raja said, “Of course, those ideas will be reflected in the manifesto as well. But the vision statement will stand out to grab people’s attention.

Constantine Ravindran, DMK Deputy Secretary, Media and Press Relations, said the vision statement would inspire confidence in the minds of people, who had suffered the brunt of the price hike, especially the hike in prices. price of petroleum products. “A manifesto is a set of announcements. We have prepared the vision statement with concrete plans for its execution. This will guide the DMK government for the next 10 years, ”he said.