Tamil Nadu   

A drama is in store

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, SEPT. 14. Normally, the birth anniversary of the founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and late Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, will involve just garlanding of his statues in various parts of the State. But this year it promises to be different, perhaps eventful.

The ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will be observing the day in its traditional format. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will lead the party functionaries in paying homage to `Anna' at the statue on Anna Salai here around 10.30 a.m.

Awards distribution

The DMK has chosen to go out of Chennai for its major celebration — `Mupperum vizha' — and distribution of trust awards. As part of its stepped up campaign and enthusing of cadres, the party will be holding its celebration in Coimbatore. The party president, M. Karunanidhi, will participate in a series of functions in that city. The leader of another Dravidian party, Vaiko, has timed the culmination of his Tirunelveli-Chennai `Renaissance March' in the city for tomorrow. But his Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) faces a dilemma.

The city police have refused permission for him and an estimated 3,000 followers accompanying him to march through the heart of Chennai to reach the Island Grounds, where a rally-cum-felicitation function has been planned for the evening. The MDMK leadership has vowed to "complete the march as planned."

The MDMK and its leader have a few options before them. If Mr. Vaiko is prepared to march into the city with a handful of cadres, he may be permitted to complete the walkathon. But if all 3,000 cadres want to follow him, there will be a problem. They may be detained by the police for defying the regulatory order in force. The police have suggested that the volunteers take vehicles and drive to the venue of the rally. But that suggestion seems "unacceptable" to them.

As a result, there could be a "drama" at the Kathipara junction around 10 a.m., when Mr. Vaiko and his followers are expected to arrive at the Nehru statue intersection. (Police advise motorists and people who have work around that area at that time to reschedule their programme to avoid inconvenience.)

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Gopal entitled to documents: court
• A drama is in store
• Jayalalithaa to meet Manmohan
• Lock for phones
• POTA detenus end fast
• `Apply discretion while granting bail'
• Chennai hospital performs risky surgery on Pakistani boy
• `Design varsity courses for mid-career training'
• Heated exchanges at Pudukottai hearing
• `Time for Congress leaders to decide on State's future'
• I will march into the city: Vaiko
• It may be yet another dummy byelection
• Stage set for Mupperum Vizha
• Supplementary counselling for MBA, MCA
• We will not allow defiance of law: Chief Minister
• Lalu Prasad coming
• 2 policemen seek bail in Jayalakshmi case
• `Using vehicles inappropriate'
• Five Al-Umma activists sentenced
• Post offices to sell UTI mutual fund products
• Jayalalithaa to meet Manmohan
• College teachers to be appointed on contract
• `Consider women's hardship before framing policies'
• Periyar varsity clearance must for magazine articles
• Madras University signs tech transfer agreement for AIDS drug
• Briefly

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu