The run-up to the 66 birthday of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa witnessed a series of welfare programmes across Tamil Nadu, including a mega blood donation programme organised by the State Transport Corporations that entered the Guinness Book of world records. Whatever be the event, there was a relevance to the number 66. At the party headquarters here, State Ministers and senior party functionaries cut a 66-kg cake that looked like the Parliament building. Jubilant cadres raised slogans hailing Ms. Jayalalithaa as the future Prime Minister as she waved acknowledging to their cheers.
As expected, some cadres adopted novel ways to celebrate their leader’s birthday and also attract her attention. While one pinned 66 badges containing the Chief Minister’s photo on his bare chest, the other almost shaved his head just leaving two strips of hair replicating the party (two leaves) symbol. Logeswaran and Rajasekhar, both from Madurai, said they would return only after meeting the AIADMK supremo.
Since early on Monday, all roads leading to the party headquarters in Royapettah had huge digital banners on either side. Though Ms. Jayalalithaa arrived shortly after noon, the Avvai Shanmugam Salai, where the office is located, was partly closed to traffic since morning.
Besides sweets, dance and drumbeats, the birthday celebrations also included a free medical camp organised by Sri Ramachandra Hospital where many party cadres, journalists and police personnel checked their vital parameters.
