AIADMK flags flutter endlessly, as partymen dance and raise full-throated slogans. A VIP car turns into a selfie spot. When Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam appears frequently on the porch, there is an enthusiastic welcome. ‘Thenpennai’ on Greenways Road, the residence of the Chief Minister, is the site of a carnival.
Ever since he made his speech at the Jayalalithaa memorial point on Sunday last, revolting against Ms. V.K. Sasikala, Mr. Panneerselvam has been getting a sea of visitors from different walks of life, besides his partymen.
The visitors have more than one attraction at the official Chief Minister’s home. Most of those who come to greet Mr. Panneerselvam, eager to shake his hand, may not be able to take a selfie with him, but his official car (TN-06 Z-2345) provides a photo-op.
Initially, the policeman guarding the vehicle resisted attempts by visitors to take a selfie, but eventually gave in. As they move beyond the car, the visitors are asked to record their details, including mobile phone numbers, by the OPS group’s IT Wing. Songs from MGR films sweep the compound, and speeches made by Jayalalithaa about Mr. Panneerselvam lift the spirits of those who come.
Political heavyweights such as MPs and district-level functionaries are greeted with whistles and slogans, while actors also get a rousing welcome.
Over the past seven days, crowd management has been refined. If the first day was chaotic, the visitors now arrive at a well-arranged campus. Pandals provide shade, strategically-placed barricades regulate crowds and variety rice and bottled water ensure that the visitors do not leave hungry.
