The cadre of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) of the central districts celebrated in spectacular style the victory of the party general secretary and the Chief Ministerial candidate Jayalalithaa by bursting crackers and singing songs.
Not only in Srirangam constituency, but people across the entire Tiruchi district seemed elated at the news of Ms. Jayalalithaa taking an early and comfortable lead came in.
A large number of party men clad in karai veshtis and T-shirts displaying the portraits of Ms. Jayalalithaa promptly, and the women attiring in saris bearing party colours with two leaves symbol, started assembling in street corners and other vantage points in Srirangam town, its outskirts and in other rural centres like Manikandam, Anthanallur since the break of dawn.
After the first round lead was announced, the cadre were jubilant and burst crackers. They danced unmindful of the scorching sun to the evergreen hits of MGR starrers. While the elderly women shed tears of joy, the others were seen embracing and congratulating each other at their leader's spectacular show.
The scene was not different in front of the Saranathan College of Engineering on the outskirts of the city where the votes of Srirangam constituency were counted. Scores of party men who reached there in two-wheelers, four-wheelers, autos sporting giant party flags shouted slogans hailing the party leader.
Giant banners and posters thanking the voters and wishing Ms. Jayalalithaa on assuming charge as the Chief Minister for the third time were put up in the nook and corner of Srirangam and in Tiruchi city before noon.
The enthusiastic party cadre also moved into various residential localities in vehicles and distributed sweets at the central bus stand and other areas. P. Kumar, MP, accompanied by Gerald, Corporation Councillor belonging to the DMDK, led the partymen.
“We are delighted and words fail us to explain our excitement at the landslide victory of the party candidates and in particular our Amma in Srirangam. The central districts are happy that for the first time the Chief Minister has been elected from the Cauvery delta region,” said an AIADMK worker.
Mr. Kumar, MP and one of the campaign coordinators of the AIADMK in Srirangam constituency, said the whole electorate of Srirangam were happy at the election of Amma from this constituency. “This remarkable win is a victory of the people,” he says with elation writ large on his face.
Many feel that with the victory of Ms. Jayalalithaa, the temple town of Srirangam is likely to get a boost in the form of infrastructure development.
