Amit Shah to attend Pongal fete in Trichy

Trichy: BJP on Thursday conducted Panthakkal Naduthal, a preliminary ritual ahead of Union home minister Amit Shah's community Pongal celebrations planned at Mannarpuram military ground in Trichy city on Jan 5. Around 2,000 families with Pongal pots will take part in the BJP event, marking the onset of the party's campaign for the Tamil Nadu assembly election.Taking part in the ritual, BJP state general secretary Karuppu Muruganandham said Shah will attending a public meeting in Pudukottai on Jan 4 evening, marking the completion of state president Nainar Nagenthran's campaign. "His visit will set the ground for unseating DMK from power," Muruganandham said.Shah plans to meet BJP central committee functionaries and key members on Jan 4, likely at Trichy, to discuss the political environment. Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami is unlikely to participate in the Pongal event as he will be touring Salem as part of his ongoing statewide campaign. "Once the AIADMK leader completes his campaign, a major public meeting will be organised on behalf of NDA. CM Stalin is worried at the reception received by campaigns of the opposition leader and our state president," Muruganandham added.