THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is something very rich about liquor baron and Thiruvananthapuram constituency’s AIADMK candidate Biju Ramesh’s campaign. His campaign office near Secretariat is a white-tiled large room, so huge that it looks desolate even when there are people inside. A thick wad of Rs-500 notes was found in the military shorts of Jerry, the lone Biju Ramesh follower found at the entrance of Kanjiravilakom Temple near Pettah Junction at 5 p.m., the time the candidate was scheduled to begin his evening campaign on Tuesday. Jerry was also drunk.
45 minutes later when the candidate arrived he was surrounded by young men with thick gold chains around their necks. Biju Ramesh too had one, and a gold pen stuck in his pocket. The promises he makes are richer. Rs 50,000 and gold for a marriage, Rs 25,000 for a delivery, three-meals-a-day for “just Rs 20”, laptop, bicycle for girls, mixie, grinder, television... all that Jayalalitha provides in Tamil Nadu, and one more. “A garbage plant,” Biju Ramesh said.
The liquor baron, however, does not look like the man who had brought down a political colossus like K M Mani. He looks embarrassed by all the attention he gets, even shy. His senior campaign manager introduces him to a group of tired-looking people. “We are AIADMK supporters,” the leader of the group said, tentatively. “We represent 39 families in Jagathy. How to use us is left to you,” he said, clearly making an offer. Ramesh offers his smile, and his aide takes the group to a side.
When he meets people on the road or in their houses, he is made to feel like a star. “I have seen you on TV,” a Muslim lady tells him. “You should be a bold man to take on the big politicians,” an old woman comments. In response, he smiles.
When a man in a scooter asks him why he should vote for him, Ramesh tells him what he had been telling family gatherings in coastal areas: “If I win, Amma will offer everything to this constituency. Then, our rulers will be forced to provide Amma’s goodies in other parts of the state, too.”
