Parties throw traffic out of gear in Chennai

Chennai: Political fizz disrupted traffic in major pockets in the city on Wednesday. While it was the last day to submit party ticket applications in DMK, Congress and TMC began accepting applications.

Several arterial roads in the city choked with vehicles for about three hours from 10 am. Vehicles of DMK MLA ticket seekers lined up before Anna Arivalayam on Anna Salai. The carriage space had already shrunk in the area due to the ongoing works of CMRL forcing the traffic to move at snail’s pace.

The stretch leading to Saidapet from Anna flyover to Anna Arivalayam was the worst affected while the cascading effects were felt on Radhakrishnan Salai, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, and Arcot Road.

The MTC buses heading towards Parry’s, usually allowed to take Anna Salai, were regulated near Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Salai junction and were diverted via South Boag Road to reach Anna flyover.

The motorists who took Anna Salai were the worst affected since they could not take any other arterial roads until they reached Guindy.

Similarly, Congress MLA ticket aspirants too thronged Sathyamoorthy Bhavan on General Patters Road irking traffic.

Besides, a marriage ceremony was organized at YMCA ground in Royapettah which compounded the woes of the Chennaiites.

Since AIADMK party supremo and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa solemnized the weddings of 14 children of AIADMK ministers and MLAs in that venue, AIADMK cadres and family members thronged the venue bringing Royapettah traffic to a grinding halt.

TTK Road,Radhakrishnan Salai and Gopalapuram I Main Road are among the major roads that bore the brunt of the mass wedding.

Meanwhile, DMK sources said on the last day alone 2,500 cadres and
functionaries sought ticket to contest elections. Many DMK  functionaries including Anitha Radhakrishnan came with their supporters and they were upbeat of getting a chance to go to the Assembly.  Applications from aspirants were being received from January 24.