Chennai: Loudspeakers shout out recent Tamil film songs - just remixed and lyrics changed to meet DMK President M Karunanidhi's political specifications.
The DMK's trade union wing marches ahead, and the back-drop is set for Karunanidhi to mount his campaign vehicle.
It's his own constituency, Chepauk, a thickly-populated area, predominantly a slum on the banks of River Cooum.
It's a profile that represents the DMK's urban strongholds and Karunanidhi, who's won from here in 1996 and 2001 is all set for another election. His rival Jayalalithaa has called this election her last war against the DMK president.
As he drives through the narrow lanes, Karunanidhi realises that a victory in these polls is crucial for his party.
The DMK chief speaks about Jayalalithaa sacking government employees, reminding the voter about one of the key issues that gave the DMK a landslide victory in 2004.
He says things have changed since then and that now he focuses on his party's manifesto, which incidentally promises a free colour TV and rice at Rs 2 per kilo.
"They ask us if we will give cable connection also, but tell me a man who gives a cow and knows how to give a rope as well," says Karunanidhi.
Nonetheless, the TVs are a promise that he hopes will keep the sun rising in Tamil Nadu and more importantly on his party.
It's perhsps one of the most crucial elections in a long political career and as Karunanidhi is set for the 2006 Assembly Polls, he's banking on his manifesto and electoral arithmetic alongwith his allies to win this one.
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