Bypoll duty takes back seat as AIADMK cadre work for world leaders’ meet

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, in a statement, thanked the public, government officials and the party workers for offering a rousing reception to the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It may be noted that the ruling AIADMK rescheduled the campaign tour of CM Palaniswami and party convenor O Panneerselvam for Vikravandi and Nanguneri bypolls due to the summit.

According to a senior secretariat official, 29 locations were fixed by the government where the party workers can rope in public to greet the Chinese president. Each point had a zonal officer to take care of the logistics. An IAS officer was assigned to ensure the supply of flags and festoons to school students and the public, the official said.

Four senior officers in the ranks of chief education officers were assigned to liaison with the schools and colleges to rope in students. Chennai Corporation Commissioner and Kancheepuram district Collector were assigned to take care of cultural events, the official said.

“Each district secretaries were given five locations to mobilise people and party workers to greet the visiting Chinese leader and PM Modi. The ruling AIADMK office-bearers from Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur who were earlier assigned to work for Vikravandi bypoll were diverted to south Chennai to take care of the summit’s reception arrangements,” said AIADMK district secretary Chitlapakkam Rajendran.

For every point, 1,500 to 2,000 people volunteered to greet the leaders and we took care of their transportation, the former MP told DT Next. Our party leaders were instructed not to install any hoardings and banners and no banners were kept by the party workers, Rajendran added.