Southern States - Tamil Nadu

A burst of celebrations from dawn

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI March 2. When the ruling party came out to celebrate the coronation of its leader on Saturday, every other facet of Chennai's life got sidelined.

As the new Cabinet headed by Jayalalithaa was being sworn in at the Madras University Centenary auditorium, the entire area turned a scene of explosive celebrations right from dawn.

For the first time in long years, MGR's legacy was back in the limelight. His motifs, posters and photographs were seen in large numbers, even as the legendary actor's film songs blared over loudspeakers. Still it did not take away the sway Ms. Jayalalithaa has over her followers.

All along Kamarajar Salai and the beachfront, it was party time for AIADMK cadres. For a 3-km stretch on both sides of the university campus and along Walajah Road, party flags, festoons, posters and banners eulogising the `Revolutionary leader' dominated the landscape.

The thousands who came to witness the swearing-in watched the ceremony, at the nearby M.A. Chidambaram stadium, Chepauk, where a giant electronic screen relayed the pictures live. And, everytime a Minister came to the dias to take the oath, clutches of his or her supporters would cheer him with unalloyed glee. A special contingent from Andipatti and Theni naturally turned out the loudest cheering squad.

Still, the `show' on the road was something else.

All along the path from Ms. Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence to the university, `costumed warriors' sat on horseback at regular intervals. In between stood music bands, folk dancers and groups of cadres.

As usual the women's wing led from the front.

Even after the official function ended around noon, thousands of workers thronged the venue, the beachfront, the Anna Samadhi (memorial) and the university building.

There was, however, no testing time for the police, out in full force.

With the AIADMK cadres insisting on watching the swearing-in function on the giant screen at the stadium, the TNCA was forced to suspend a first division league match for an hour to avoid any problem.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Jayalalithaa sworn in CM
• Immediate job is to clean up financial mess: Jayalalithaa
• Defence forces to utilise funds in time
• Seminar on media language
• A burst of celebrations from dawn
• Time for pleasantries
• `Scribe has nothing to do with ultras'
• `Second generation reforms should focus on cutting red tape'
• Joshi, Vijay Goel greet CM
• Red Cross to form volunteer forum

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu