Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Thyagarajan takes charge

By Karthik Subramanian

CHENNAI June 21. It was high noon at the Chennai Corporation today as the AIADMK functionary and Deputy Mayor, `Karate' R. Thyagarajan, formally donned the mantle of Mayor(in-charge).

Amidst shouts of ``Puratchi Thalaivi Vazgha'' by the AIADMK councillors, Mr.Thyagarajan signed the first file after taking charge. He authorised the conduct of the next council meeting on June 28.

Mr.Thyagarajan did not have any ready answer for his plans for the city. ``Whatever Amma decides, we will implement,'' he said on his vision for Chennai.

Among those present to congratulate Mr.Thyagarajan were the Rajya Sabha MP, S. S. Chandran, the newly-elected Saidapet MLA, M. Radharavi, the Park Town MLA, P. K. Sekar Babu, the Slum Clearance Board chairman, N. Balaganga and the AIADMK south Chennai secretary, Saidai Doraiswamy. The Corporation Commissioner, M. Kalaivanan, presented a bouquet to the acting Mayor. Almost all senior Corporation officials were present to greet him.

As the clock atop Ripon Buildings went past noon, the Mayor's flag was raised on the mast for the first time since June 18, when Mr. Stalin was unseated. Crackers were burst in front of the civic body headquarters and sweets distributed.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, Mr.Thyagarajan said it was the benevolence of `Amma' that even an ordinary cadre like him was able to occupy the seat of Mayor. He had a dig at the ousted Mayor for his idea of thanking the public more than eight months after having been elected. ``Only now he has remembered the public. He was absent for most of the Tuesday grievance meets,'' Mr. Thyagarajan said.

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