JOIN USShe may not be a film star or a kingmaker. But for candidates contesting the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for May 16 from the Gummidipoondi constituency, she is a VIP.
For Praveena is the first name in the voters' list of the state. The Gummidipoondi constituency is also the first with Kanyakumari being the last. Candidates belonging to all political parties, including DMK, AIADMK and even independents, are thronging her house at Egumadurai in Gummudipoondi to seek her support.
It is not as though her vote will tilt the balance in favour of any candidate but the first voter and the first vote matters at least as a matter of sentiment. Her encouraging words to the candidates who visit her house come as a morale booster. She cannot be a game changer. But the game can start changing only from her, said some candidates.
"Initially, I was not aware of the fact that my name will be the first in the voter list. I came to know only when leaders of political parties came to my house and sought my support," 32-year-old Praveena told DH.
Though Praveena was continuously "disturbed" by the contesting candidates, she never forgot to wish them to perform well. "I don't know whom to vote since I promised my support to each and every contestant who approached me," she said. "It is a nice experience to meet her. Praveena assured that she would support me," C H Sekhar, a DMK candidate, said.
Election Commission sources said that a total of 15 candidates are contesting in Gummudipoondi constituency, which has a total electorate of 2.60 lakh.