COIMBATORE: AIADMK has begun wooing fans of actor Ajith Kumar in Coimbatore as part of its efforts to corner the votes of the youth that might otherwise go to Vijay’s TVK.Former minister and senior AIADMK leader SP Velumani held an interactive session with a group of Ajith fans during a campaign at Selvapuram in Thondamuthur constituency a few days ago, seeking their support for the party.Making an emotional appeal, Velumani invoked the mutual respect between the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa and the actor. “It is well known that Ajith had immense respect for our leader ‘Amma’. In the spirit of that mutual admiration, we urge his fans to recognize the visionary work done during her tenure and cast their votes for the AIADMK,” Velumani stated during the meeting.The outreach was seen as an attempt to tap into the actor’s well-organized fan base, which held significant sway over first-time and young voters in the region. Referring to the shifting political landscape and the entry of new players such as Vijay’s TVK, Velumani instructed party cadres to ensure that the opposition vote remained unified.“Not a single vote should be diverted to the TVK. Every anti-DMK vote and the crucial minority votes must be consolidated under the AIADMK banner to ensure a decisive victory,” he told workers.Velumani directed party workers to initiate conversations within their own families and said they should educate their sons, daughters and the younger generation about the welfare schemes and infrastructure projects implemented during the AIADMK regime. The party hoped to bridge the generational gap, reclaim its stronghold in Coimbatore and neutralize the influence of its primary rival, the DMK.
