People suffered a lot during DMK regime: Jayalalithaa

Chennai: AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said people had "suffered a lot" in the previous DMK government and urged voters to give her party a successive term in the May 16 polls as the party led government had ensured them "spring" in the last five years.

In a whirlwind election campaign, Jayalalithaa visited all the 16 Assembly constituencies in Chennai and mounted an offencive against her party's arch rival at Kolathur, from where DMK Treasurer M K Stalin is seeking another term.

"In the previous DMK government, you had suffered a lot. Nobody can forget the power cut situation prevailing then, nor the sufferings of the people. There was 10-15 hours of power cut due to which students could not study and entire Tamil Nadu was in darkness," she said.

While law and order had "collapsed," property like land was grabbed or encroached upon during the DMK government of 2006-11, Jayalalithaa said.

"But the AIADMK government has given you spring. Tamil Nadu is no more facing power cut. Law and order is best maintained while police is promptly acting on land grab charges," she said.

Such usurped property had been retrieved and handed over to rightful owners, and for such a "spring to continue" people have to vote for AIADMK, Jayalalithaa said and assured for the uplift of the poor and overall peace and welfare if her party was voted to power again.

The AIADMK General Secretary had made power cuts and land encroachment allegations against DMK leaders, including former ministers, a key poll issue in 2011, where she led her party to a massive win.