It took three hours for the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to reach the Circuit House here from the airport on Friday evening as the AIADMK accorded a rousing reception in as many as 22 locations.
As a sequel, many road users had a harrowing experience from 7 p.m. onwards since the Chief Minister was made to step out of his vehicle in Melavasal - Periyar bus stand areas by Minister Sellur K. Raju and other functionaries as there was a large turnout of ‘crowds’.
The CM who arrived in a scheduled flight from Chennai at 7.50 p.m. was received by Ministers Mr. Raju, Udayakumar and other dignitaries. Soon after stepping out of the airport, the party’s rural functionaries gave a reception at Perungudi junction for about 20 minutes. Thus, the traffic on the Avaniapuram-Arupukkotai stretch went for a toss.
Following this, the CM’s convoy stopped on major intersections that at around 9.30 p.m., it reached Periyar bus stand. At many receptions, the cadre presented shawls and swords to Mr. Edappadi. Youth who were made to stand took selfies from their mobile phones with the VVIP.
After an overnight halt at the Circuit House, the CM is expected to offer darshan at Meenakshi Temple on Saturday. Later, at around 11 a.m,, he is scheduled to proceed to Sivaganga, where he would address the MGR centenary celebrations. The CM would reach Madurai airport and leave for Chennai the same night.
Though police officers said that they had not diverted vehicles, public, particularly, pedestrians were put to hardships as the cutouts and hoardings were placed on wayside in the city since Thursday evening.
