After major win, Jaya pays tribute to Anna

Chennai: The scent of fresh roses, cheers from the crowd, chants of party workers, armed security men guarding photographs of C N Annadurai and MGR along with the constant honking of vehicles at junctions welcomed AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa on Friday afternoon to pay homage to the Dravidian legends.
The events on Wallajah Road and Anna Salai near Spencer Plaza lasted less than five minutes but were enough threw traffic out of gear.
A posse of policemen had been guarding the road since morning and had barricadeed the junctions around the statues. Onlookers rubbed shoulders with AIADMK men to catch a glimpse of Jayalalithaa who only a day earlier registered an impressive victory in the election.
That Jayalalithaa nowadays rarely makes a public appearance made the event special. While partymen in crisp white dhotis and shirts greeted her with folded hands, the sea of humanity that had gathered at both the places, unmindful of the scorching sun, went berserk when the CM arrived. Most of the people were busy clicking pictures or recording her entry. Some waved party flags, others flashed bright cut-outs of the party symbol-two green leaves - as she laid rose petals at the photographs. The air resounded with cries of 'Puratchi Thalaivi'.
G Renukadevi, a sweeper in a surgical gear store near Omandurar Estate and a staunch AIADMK supporter, had never seen her leader in person before. She had been waiting near Wallajah Road junction for an hour. "I heard she was coming here when I got to work at 9.30am. Every time she comes here, I've missed the opportunity to see her. This time, I decided to wait, however long it takes," she said. "I only wish I can see Amma," she said.
On Anna Salai, a 10-piece band was playing music on either side of the road. People perched on the terrace of Spencer Plaza to catch a glimpse of Jayalalithaa.
As the crowd waited patiently, nearby performers, walking on long wooden peg stilts, gave a festive feel to the gathering. Hawkers selling cucumbers and peanuts had a field day. A vendor set up shop near the road selling photographs of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
After laying flowers near the photograph of Annadurai around 2pm, it took her 20 minutes to reach Anna Salai. She paid her respects at 2.25pm and zoomed away.