Hoardings of OPS, EPS fill party HQ on foundation day

The rank and file in the ruling AIADMK thronged the Avvai Shanmugham Salai housing the AIADMK headquarters to observe the day. “Long live Puratchithalivar MGR and Purathichithalivi Amma (Jayalalithaa)” rented the jampacked headquarters, when the party coordinator O Panneerselvam arrived. An elated OPS hoisted the party flag at the headquarters in Royapettah and distributed sweets to the cadres.

Party co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami hoisted the AIADMK flag at Siluvampalayam in Salem, where he is bereaving over the demise of his mother.

Founded by matinee icon M G Ramachandran on October 17, the party has stepped into its 49th year ruling the State for almost 30 years. The party headquarters wore a festive look with decorative flowers, garlands and a welcome arch at the entrance. Members of the musical troupe were hired to spice up the occasion along with popular songs of MGR. Posters and banners of all hue and size greeting OPS and EPS also mushroomed along the approach roads leading to the party headquarters.

Cadres showered flower petals on OPS car and vied with each other offering bouquets. As part of the celebrations OPS and the State Ministers gave away financial assistance worth Rs 26,39,778 lakhs to 28 students-- 23 MBBS and five BDS and engineering students-- from the party funds. Both OPS and EPS paid floral tributes to the statues of MGR and Jayalalithaa.

Party presidium chairman E Madhusudanan, deputy coordinator R Vaithilingam, state ministers D Jayakumar, SP Velumani, P Thangamani, RB Udhayakumar, Sellur K Raju were among those who participated. The party foundation day also brought brisk sales of biriyani packets in the vicinity and traffic snarl marked the locality till noon. On the eve of the party’s foundation day, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam had urged cadres to take a vow to work for a record hat-trick poll victory.