: As news that the Governor has invited Edappadi K. Palaniswami to form the government reached the AIADMK headquarters here, party cadre who had assembled erupted in wild celebration.
Even as some did a milk abhishekam to the statue of the former chief minister and party founder M.G. Ramachandranothers raised slogans hailing V.K. Sasikala as the ‘queen of sacrifice’. Many cadre also vented their ire against former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam by tearing his posters and raising slogans against him.
‘Amma’s blessings’
“This is happening only because of the blessings of Amma (Jayalalithaa) ; this is what she wanted for the party. We have been patient for a while now, and finally, our Chinamma’ s (Sasikala) vision for the party has come true,” said G. Mythili, a party member from Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar.
While Mr. Palaniswami was sworn in as Chief Minister in the evening, the celebrations began much earlier and lasted for a few hours. A group of women cadre, who were distributing sweets and dancing to celebrate the announcement, accused Mr. Panneerselvam of having caused a split in the party.
All the cadre who had gathered at the headquarters spoke extensively about Sasikala and how, according to them, she was the best person to carry forward the party and that it was her efforts which had made it possible for Mr. Palaniswami and other loyal members of the party to form the government. “Most of us completely support Sasikala given the sacrifices that she has made. Over the last three decades, she has toiled alongside Jayalalithaa and knows what is best for the party. We have all supported her decisions and are not disappointed now,” claimed P.C. Sekar, a Panchayat president from Ariyalur.
