Tamil Nadu polls: Euphoria sweeps AIADMK

CHENNAI: AIADMK cadres and supporters who swarmed the party’s headquarters at Royapettah and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s residence at Poes Garden, celebrated the party’s victory in the Assembly elections by dancing and bursting crackers.

They started gathering at the party headquarters from  Thursday morning.
With  exit polls not favouring the ruling party, they were glued to television sets which beamed live updates and results.

After the first round of counting, when news of AIADMK’s lead in many constituencies trickled in, the cadres became jubilant. They broke into dance and burst crackers. Some enthusiastic cadres even poured milk on the statue of party founder MGR.

MGR Vasu, (69), a member of the party for over four decades,  came from Palakkad in Kerala to celebrate the party’s success in the elections. Though the exit polls predicted the contrary, he said he had no doubt his party would win the elections. Azhagu Valli Nachiar, an advocate, who came to party headquarters said schemes like Amma Unavagam and free laptops brought victory for the party.

Her mother S.P.M. Amaravathy Ammal from Alandur said, “Each house in the state was benefited by AIADMK government’s schemes. So, we were confident of winning the elections.”

Around 11 am,  it became clear that AIADMK would form the government again with simple majority. By that time, Avvai Shanmugam Salai was closed to traffic. The road filled was with cadres who either carried party flags or two leaves symbol.

From Radhakrishnan Salai to Poes Garden, the entire  stretch was filled with rejoicing party workers. They distributed sweets to the public. They also burst crackers and danced.  A handful of cadres who painted the party flag on their bodies were the cynosure of all eyes. Senior IAS and IPS officials besides AIADMK functionaries, including MPs made a beeline to greet Jayalalithaa with bouquets.

Chief secretary K. Gnanadesikan, home secretary Apoorva Verma,  finance secretary K. Shanmugam, higher education and school education secretaries Selvi Apoorva, D. Sabitha, Chennai Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy, and Chennai corporation commissioner B. Chandra Mohan were among those who greeted her.  DGP Ashok Kumar, Chennai Police Commissioner Ashutosh Shukla, Tamil Nadu Uniform Services Recruitment Board Chairman, George, ADGPs Sanjay Arora and J.K. Tripathy also greeted the Chief Minister.