Traders said that TVK functionaries have been approaching them for the past 10 days, asking them to remove their roadside shops and goods before the programme. They said they have been told that cleaning, painting and beautification works would be carried out on Saturday, followed by the Minister’s visit on Sunday.

“Take it away, take it away and go.” This is what traders were repeatedly told, according to T S Jamal, a vendor in the area. The affected stretch, according to traders, runs from the NSC Bose Road Flower Market police station through Sowcarpet and up to the end of the commercial area, covering streets including Kasi Chettiar Lane, Perumal Mudali Street, Narayana Mudali Street, Devaraja Mudali Street, Nainiappa Naicken Street and Govindappa Naicken Street.

Sreekumar, treasurer of the Federation of Chennai City Small Traders Association, said that traders had offered to cooperate with the cleanliness work rather than shut their shops. “We told them that if there is garbage, we traders will pick it up ourselves. If you want to put up banners, put them in front of the shops. We’ll not object. We asked them to cooperate with us,” he said.

Instead, traders stated that the pressure to clear the shops continued. According to Sreekumar, around 20 people approached the traders’ association on Friday and asked the members to comply with the demand. “We’re not opposed to the cleanliness drive itself. Out objection is to being asked to give up our businesses on a weekend to facilitate it,” Jamal added. “Saturday and Sunday are the business days when people come to our shope to purchase goods.”