Jayalalithaa blows the poll bugle

Calls for non-Congress govt. at Centre, as envisoned by Thevar

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa presenting gold ‘kavasam’ to the statue of Muthuramalinga Thevar, at his memorial at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district on Sunday. Photo: L. Balachandar

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa virtually kick-started the party’s election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, emphasising the need for a non-Congress government at the Centre, as envisioned by late All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) leader U. Muthuramalinga Thevar.

Addressing a gathering after presenting golden armour to be draped on the statue of the late leader at his memorial in his native village here on Sunday, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, “The time is ripe for realising the ideals of Muthuramalinga Thevar, including a non-Congress government.”

“The time is ripe to retrieve afresh the goals and ideals of the nationalist leader, which included spiritualism, nationalism, socialism, an anti-imperialistic stance and working for an alternative to the Congress government,” she said in the run-up to the general elections.

Recalling the sterling qualities of the late leader, Ms. Jayalalithaa, in her brief speech, said spiritualism and nationalism were like two eyes to the Thevar leader. The party was following the goals and ideals that the late leader stood for, she said and exhorted her party cadre to work to realise the objectives. Muthuramalinga Thevar, who had served as the State President of the AIFB, had fought for the welfare of the people and the working class, she said.

Earlier, Ms. Jayalalithaa who arrived by a helicopter from Madurai, was accorded a rousing reception by a large number of people who thronged the village to witness the event.

After a brief ritual by Sivalingaeswara Swami of the Coimbatore Kamakshipuri Adheenam at the memorial, Ms. Jayalalithaa presented a gold ‘kavasam’ (ornamental plates in gold to drape a statue) weighing 13 kg for the statue of Muthuramalinga Thevar. She sprinkled holy water and offered worship before presenting the four pieces of gold plates amid chanting of mantras.

She was received at the memorial by Thevar’s family heirs, N. Gandhi Meenal, S. Thangavel, S. Palani and P. Ramachandran.

She was received at the helipad by her ministerial colleagues, led by O Panneerselvam, District Collector K.Nanthakumar and Superintendent of Police N.M.Mylvahanan.