Anna’s birth anniv rally a show of strength for AIADMK, AMMK

While the AIADMK cadre led by Tiruchy district secretary and Lok Sabha MP P Kumar undertook a rally for around three kilometres, Dhinakaran who was accompanied by hundreds of his supporters walked to Chinthamani here, where he garlanded the Anna statue.

“The party is with us and the massive turnout for the rally is a evidence for it,” said Kumar, adding that the government led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam is working exceptionally well for the State’s development. “We will prove our strength in the by-elections in Thiruparankundram and Tiruvarur,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran along with former transport minister Senthil Balaji and former Mayor Sarubala R Thondaiman commenced their rally from the Vestry roundabout and reached Chinthamani near the Chathiram bus stand.

According to sources from both the parties, the rally was originally not in their schedule. The AIADMK had hastily planned one after they learnt about Dhinakaran’s plan to garland the Anna statue on Saturday. In a bid to show the AIADMK’s strength, the district secretary organised the rally which was staged between Mannarpuram and Chinthamani. In response, the AMMK leadership led by former government whip R Manoharan decided to organise a rally of its own to score one above the ruling party.

Both the rallies obstructed traffic in the city for a few hours. Many eyebrows were raised as cadre from both the parties who rode bikes did not wear helmet despite the rule being strictly implemented by the police. Former DMK minister and district secretary K N Nehru had also garlanded the Anna statue much before the AIADMK and AMMK rallies.

Former minister in the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s cabinet S Damodaran joined the AMMK in the presence of party deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran here on Saturday.

Damodaran, who was elected from the Kinathukadavu constituency, became a minister during the 2001-06 government of Jayalalithaa.

The former AIADMK supremo accommodated him in the cabinet again in November 2011 during a reshuffle. He took over the agriculture portfolio from K A Sengottaiyan.

When the AIADMK split after the demise of Jayalalithaa, Damodaran, a prominent leader in Kongu region, went along with O Panneerselvam camp.

Recently, the AIADMK leadership led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam posted him as joint secretary for the party’s farmers’ wing.

However, Damodaran who came to Tiruchy on Saturday, met TTV Dhinakaran and joined with AMMK.  Subsequently, he also participated in the rally organised by the AMMK.

Later, he told media persons that those from the OPS faction were sidelined in the AIADMK. 

“I was not convinced by the merger of OPS and EPS factions. I have just been following the words of ‘Amma’ who advised us to keep the party alive even after her demise. 

If anyone wants to revive the AIADMK they must join TTV Dhinakaran, who will resurrect the party. I believe in him,” he said.