The Puducherry unit of the DMK took the phrase, ‘out of step,’ to a whole new level during the birth anniversary celebrations of party founder and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai last week.
Though the party cadre came out in impressive numbers for the celebrations, one could see them standing as groups, each owing loyalty to one or the other factions. The high point was the garlanding of the Annadurai statue near the Odiansalai police station.
The convener of the local unit, M.A.S. Subramaniam, was heading a rally from Maraimalai Adigal Salai to the statue even as two other groups — led by deputy convener S.P. Sivakumar and the other with former MLA R. Siva in the forefront — keeping a distance and waiting for the loyalists led by Mr. Subramaniam to finish paying their respects. Thus, one had the queer scene of three DMK factions organise, in quick succession, their independent celebrations of the same event.
When CM is also your chief guest
Organisers of public programmes where Chief Minister N.Rangasamy is the chief guest usually have to be prepared to put up with some delay. On Saturday, the Coast Guard organised the International Coastal Cleanup Day on the beach front.
The well-attended event had a few Ministers, Coast Guard Officers, their families and a large number of students assembled on Beach Road well before the scheduled time of 7 a.m. Mr. Rangasamy, who was scheduled to flag off the event, arrived an hour late, making them wait in the sun.
He was also scheduled to launch an NCC sailing expedition at 9.30 a.m. and the delay affected that programme too. Officers and cadets waiting at the Thengathittu harbour used the time to conduct rehearsals on according proper guard of honour to the chief guest.
Some of them were frequently calling the Chief Minister’s office to find out whether he would come for sure.
After waiting till 11.45 a.m, Colonel Anil Nautiyal, Group Commander, flagged off the event.
