MADURAI: President of the Makkal Needhi Maiyam,

, who was campaigning for his party candidate P Sakthivel in the

constituency, which is going to bypolls on May 19, cancelled his meetings at various spots after speaking at just the first one, Thoppur, disappointing people, who were waiting to get a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician. He allegedly cancelled the meetings due to the lack of crowds at the organized speaking points.

Party cadres said that he would next spek at Periyar Nagar in Thiruparankundram and when media rushed to the spot, they were told that the campaign was cancelled.

Next was Samanatham, where the announcers said that they had gone through lot of trouble to get police permission for the spot and that this was the opportunity to listen to the future leader of the state. They had organized the speaking point in a narrow street bordered by closely situated houses so that people would gather there in large numbers, but unfortunately, only about 60 people gathered 10 minutes before Haasan was about to arrive there and his party members tried to make people come out of their homes, however, it was announced later that the meeting was cancelled.

Anitha, a resident, who had taken a spot in front of a shop in Samantham on, was inviting her neighbours to join her. However, she was disappointed that Haasan did not come. “Even actress Vindhiya came here on Tuesday, and there were good crowds, but all the women in the street have gone for the DMK meeting in which Stalin is participating, as they were given a saree, Rs 300 and an eversilver pot,” she said. She said that women had gone in four mini lorries to attend Stalin’s meeting.

MNM spokesperson Snehan, who came to the spot, said that he did not know why the meetings were cancelled.