From Kanchi to Tiruchy, O Panneerselvam on tour to connect with people

One more event is going to be added to this list of Tiruchy on June 5, when O Panneerselvam, leader of the AIADMK (PTA), will conclude his statewide month-long tour. S Gunasekaran from Srirangam, a political observer, said, “Tiruchy has been the sentimental spot for all political parties for decades. The city is otherwise called as ‘Thiruppumunai Tiruchy’ (Turning Point Tiruchy), as most of the political parties took vital decisions in their meetings held in the Rock City.” 

OPS, who is starting his statewide tour to meet supporters on May 5, has infused his schedule with symbolism and sentiments. He has chosen to commence it in Kancheepuram for the Anna connect and end it in Tiruchy to echo the sentiments of success associated with the city and his predecessor late J Jayalalithaa. 

Political observers feel that OPS was trying to emulate the success of Jayalalithaa, who tasted only victory in her political career after her association with the city as an MLA. Probably, he is on the right path, they added. With the OPS faction keen on showing their strength across the state, the organisers have planned the tour in a grand manner, so that it sends shivers among the rival faction and the other major political parties in the state. 

Though the focus of both the factions is now on June 13, the date fixed by the Election Commission to decide on the ownership of the party’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol, former minister KP Munusamy and the OPS group leader said on Tuesday that it has nothing to do with the merger or the symbol row, but to pep up cadre to face the local body elections.

In the backdrop of both the groups readying documents to present in the Election Commission to justify their claims, the maiden tour of OPS is expected to be a challenging one. His show of strength, if clicks, will bring in vital changes in the state politics, said political observers. 

Moreover, OPS has been steadily maintaining the ‘Amma’ sentiment while planning the tour. The selection of places, travel path and meeting venues are carefully chosen based on its association with late chief minister Jayalalithaa. For instance, Jaya started her 2011 Assembly poll campaign from Tiruchy and the 2014 Lok Sabha election march from Kancheepuram. She succeeded beyond imagination in both the elections. It seems OPS is in no mood to miss the sentimentally associated with it. So, his tour starts in Kancheepuram and concludes in Tiruchy. 

Highly-placed sources said that an important event has been scheduled by the OPS faction on Wednesday and OPS has called former minister TP Poonachi from Tiruchy for a discussion. Cadre are expecting something big to happen on June 5 in the state politics, when OPS concludes his tour in the city. 

Meanwhile, nearly 1000 members from various parties joined AIADMK (PTA) in the presence of OPS.