Taking time off his campaign on Sunday morning in the picturesque village of Gangapuram, about 12 km from Hosur in Krishnagiri district and 135 km from Salem, AIADMK deputy general secretary and former Minister K.P. Munusamy, 73, who is seeking re-election from Veppanahalli, reflected on political challenges to his party in the election, the relevance of freebies, and the impact of the entry of TVK president C. Joseph Vijay into the electoral fray. Edited excerpts: