Chennai: On Tuesday, the fight between the camps of O. Paneerselvam and V. K. Sasikala was not just limited to Greenways Road and Poes Garden. The AIADMK office on the Avvai Shanmugam Salai in Royapettah witnessed heated exchanges between supporters of the two after the party's general secretary was convicted in the disproportionate assets case.
Though Sasikala’s supporters expressed disappointment over the verdict, they continued to show hope in her return after a review petition. Followers of OPS, like Aliyappan, a fisherman from Dindivanam, who made statements like 'Ayya Vazhga, Ayya than varanum' (demanding that OPS returns) — on the other hand, were shooed away by the party cadres.
"The judgment was not a genuine one. It is very evident that it was one that was merely read out, thereby, making it apparent that the BJP is involved in trying to create a division in the AIADMK," said Zakir Abbas of the party's students' wing.
The headquarters continued to remain calm with cadres, belonging to various wings of the party, arriving. Over 150 guarded policemen were deployed around the headquarters to prevent any untoward activity that could arise. Ironically, the number of police personnel on Avai Shanmugam Salai outnumbered the supporters of both leaders there.
A tiny stall, selling the 'two-leaf' party flags and banners of late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and Sasikala saw a dip in the sales, owing to the lack of a large crowd at the headquarters. Hesitating to talk, the shop-keeper eventually said, "The sales are pretty low today. I was expecting a bigger crowd."
