Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

DMK meet preparations make heads turn

P.V.V.Murthi

Roads decorated with party flags and hoardings carrying pictures of Karunanidhi, Stalin Roads decorated with party flags, hoardings carrying pictures of Karunanidhi, Stalin

CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS: The imposing entrance, resembling the Vellore Fort getting ready at the venue of the zonal conference of the DMK scheduled to begin in Vellore on Saturday.

VELLORE: : All main roads leading to Vellore have been decorated with the DMK flags and hoardings carrying the pictures of party president M. Karunanidhi and deputy general secretary M.K. Stalin, in the run-up to its zonal conference scheduled here for August 27 and 28 and dubbed a "turning-point conference."

DMK units at various levels, including those in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts are vying with one another in displaying hoardings eulogising Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Stalin and beckoning cadres and people to the conference venue.

The hoardings can be seen on Officers' Line, Katpadi Road, Bangalore Road, Arcot Road and Arni Road. At a few places, pictures of Mr. Karunanidhi with the late C.N. Annadurai, founder of the party, are displayed. A hoarding at Sathuvachari calls Mr. Stalin "future Chief Minister."

Brisk activity could be seen at the venue in Perumugai, 10 km from here, on the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway on Thursday. Workers were seen giving finishing touches to the imposing entrance resembling the Vellore Fort, with a tall figure of poet Thiruvalluvar emerging from its middle. The dais, designed by a Bangalore architect, is getting ready. The rain during the last two days enabled the organisers to check the water-proof roof.

The conference will begin with a nadhaswaram and thavil concert by Haridwaramangalam A.K. Palanivel and party at 8 a.m. on Saturday. A music programme by Nagoor Hanifa will follow. S.P. Sargunapandian will hoist the conference flag at 10 a.m.

After the welcome address by P. Shanmugam, Vellore west district secretary and reception committee president, former minister K. Ponmudi will inaugurate the conference at 10.45 a.m.

Veerapandi S. Arumugam will deliver the presidential address at 12.30 p.m. Resolutions will be passed at 3.30 p.m.

On Sunday, Mr. Stalin will address the conference at 12.30 p.m. The afternoon session includes addresses by principal secretary Durai Murugan, treasurer Arcot N. Veerasamy, besides TNCC chief G.K. Vasan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK founder S. Ramadoss, CPI State secretary T. Pandian, CPI(M) secretary N. Varadarajan and IUML president K.M. Khader.

Mr. Karunanidhi will deliver the valedictory address at 8 p.m.

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