Sholavandan MLA K. Manickam, one of the early birds to pledge his support to former Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam, was given a rousing welcome in his constituency when he arrived on Monday.
Scores of his supporters, including former Vadipatti panchayat union vice-chariman Rajesh Khanna and others took him in a procession in Vadipatti bus stand and the nearby roads where more people, especially on-lookers stopped to greet the MLA. While he waved at the people and also greeted them with folded hands, enthusiastic people photographed him with their mobile phones. When he came to the MLA office in Vadipatti, women accorded him a traditional welcome with aarthis. “I had been receiving several calls from the people of the consitituency endorsing my support to Mr. Pannerselvam. They said that I had kept their pride high by doing so,” he said.
The MLA then visited the vadivasal at Alanganallur where he was welcomed with drum beat. After offering prayers at the vadivasal, he went to Palamedu. Mr. Manickam told AIADMK cadres that they should be ready with their party identity cards as soon they would get the opportunity to elect the party general secretary. Meanwhile, over 50 cadres of the party, supporting the Sasikala faction, were detained in Madurai city when they tried to take out a procession towards the office of Madurai South MLA, S.S. Saravanan. The cadres led by party functionary Thangam wanted to lay siege to the MLA office demanding Saravanan’s resignation as an MLA.
The MLAs, who extended their support for the tainted V.K. Sasikala-backed Edappadi K. Palaniswami were scared of facing the people in their own constituency, S.P. Shunmuganathan, Srivaikuntam MLA and former Tourism Minister, said on Monday evening.
The jubilant cadres of AIADMK gave a rousing reception on his arrival at Pudur, Vilathikulam taluk at a programme organised by G.V. Markandeyan, former Vilathikulam MLA. He said those behind former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, were the true followers and supporters of the AIADMK. Since there was enormous support for Mr.Panneerselvam and his team, the MLAs would confidently meet the people in their constituencies without any hesitation. He said Mr. Panneerselvam would soon announce his schedule to meet people across Tamil Nadu.
