No more hitches: Muthuramalinga Thevar statue to be adorned with gold kavacham

Madurai: The freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar's statue at Pasumponn is likely to be adorned with the golden 'Kavasam (armour)' as per the usual procedure at the annual 'Thevar Jayanthi' occasion, since AIADMK is all set to inform the bank officially on Friday that deputy Chief Minister, Mr. O Panneerselvam is the party treasurer. 

According to sources, senior officials of Bank of India, Anna Nagar Branch, Gandhi Meenal, legal heir of the Thevar family and AIADMK treasurer have to sign the official documents to allow the removal of 'Kavasam (armour)' from the bank locker for the 'Thevar Jayanthi' observances beginning on October 28. 

The procedural delay this year stemmed from the original rift in the AIADMK after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death. After Panneerselvam broke away from the parent party, the AIADMK (Amma) faction senior leader and Forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan issued a circular to the bank stating he was appointed as treasurer of the party.

However, after the bank had raised legal issues in handing over the 13-kilogram golden armour to the party, "we clarified to them that AIADMK factions headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam had merged on August 21 and the later would retain the Treasurer's post, which he held before the split," a senior functionary from AIADMK said on request of anonymity.

When DC contacted B Ramachandran, an office-bearer of Pasumponn Thevar memorial, he said that they have received a positive response from the government. "They informed us we will receive good news before Friday morning," he said. Yet, senior Bank of India officials refused to comment on this development.

The late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had presented the gold armour on September 2, 2014. Since then it has been the practice of AIADMK to adorn the stone sculpture of Muthuramalinga Thevar with the golden 'Kavacham' on October 28, at his birth place Pasumpon during the 'Thevar Jayanthi'.

The event would be celebrated for three days marking his birth and death anniversary which both fall on October 30. The 'Kavacham' would be deposited back in the bank locker after the 'Thevar Jayanthi' festival.