Chennai: As the campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections gathers pace, the door-to-door campaigns of DMK women workers are striking a chord with voters. They are highlighting the state government’s various social welfare schemes, many of which have transformed the lives of ordinary women.
The DMK formed “Stalin’s Women’s Brigade,” consisting of 10 trained campaigners at every polling booth in the state. According to DMK sources, the brigade began its door-to-door campaign in February, and this work has become a topic of discussion in political circles. One advantage of the women’s brigade is that other parties lack a parallel force, although some have also participated in the campaign. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s bus tour across the state is not having as much impact as the door-knocking efforts of the women campaigners.
Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam President Vijay’s meetings in various constituencies are drawing large crowds of party supporters, including women wearing party shawls, but this appears to have little impact on ordinary female voters, busy with household chores. Since the party has also made an effort to train at least one member of each women’s brigade, the women are making an impact on the campaign scene by thoroughly explaining the government’s welfare schemes to the target audience.
Women’s groups have been successful in establishing personal rapport with female voters and explaining the benefits of schemes such as monthly assistance, especially those providing ₹5,000 and ₹2,000 for three months, making a positive impact on voters. Campaigners speak to ordinary women in a positive light about what the DMK has done over the past five years and how it has changed the lives of many women like them, and do not criticize other parties or political leaders negatively, as opposition parties are now doing from stages, platforms, and bus rooftops.
Influenced by the campaign, many women also share their opinions with their peers about the ruling party’s agenda, which may not necessarily include political matters. Thus, the women campaigners have succeeded in creating an image of the DMK as a party that initiates schemes that benefit the poor and vulnerable, especially women.
