Jayalalithaa anniversary rally turns show of strength

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, along with the Ministers and top functionaries proceeded to the memorial from Anna statue. Wearing black shirts, hundreds of partymen including MLAs, MPs and district functionaries, took part in the silent march. The leaders paid homage to the departed leader, while most of the women cadre were seen with tears welling their eyes. 

Panneerselvam, who is also the party co-ordinator, read out a pledge which was repeated by others. It praised Jayalalithaa and vowed to remain a true cadre to her and carry out works to strengthen the party. The gathering also promised to transform the party into a joint family and a mass movement, besides acting as a bulwark of the government to continue ‘Amma’s golden rule’. They also pledged to explain the achievements of the government to the public. 

Recalling Jayalalithaa’s words that her party’s government would continue for several years to work for the people, they also vowed to carry out the party and political works in a such a way to ensure its success in future elections. 

For Dinakaran, this is the first public gathering of his supporters after he lost the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol and he came out with a big show of strength leading a procession attended by thousands of followers. 

He arrived in an open jeep on Anna Salai in the afternoon and it took several hours for the procession to reach the Marina. The crowd was uncontrollable when Dinakaran got down and walked towards the memorial. He had to jostle through the crowd and was unable to balance himself near the memorial as the crowd pushed forward vociferously shouting slogans hailing Jayalalithaa, VK Saskiala and Dinakaran. Amid the boisterous slogans and jostling crowd, he placed a wreath on Jaya’s memorial.

Meanwhile, in Vellore, the AIADMK cadre provided annadanam to the poor and garlanded Jayalalithaa’s portraits kept at various venues. While former anaicut MLA M Kalaiarasu accompanied by his party colleagues provided annadanam to nearly 600 persons near the Uzhavar Sandhai at Sathuvachary Collectorate, others garlanded photos of Jayalalithaa kept at various locations.