Drones overhead, Jaya hits campaign trail

Bare-chested drummers braved the blaz ing sun on R K Salai, keeping up the spirits of people making it on foot to the venue. And, stilt walkers flaunting colourful wigs and caps brought down all the way from Vellore greeted the crowd at Gate Number 6 that led to the Island Grounds in the city where AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa began her campaign for the upcoming assembly election.
By 4:30pm, the venue was al ready brimming with cadres. “ All the good initiatives that Amma has launched for the welfare of the public ­ be it Amma water or the mini-bus service ­ will garner votes for her,“ said 37-year-old Alex Chinna Kumar.
Regulars on the campaign trail kept the crowd entertained. Periyakulam `MGR' Jayaraman, 63, and R K Mohan, 70, attracted attention with their unique attire ­ head dresses flaunting the party symbol and lockets in the shape of two leaves car rying the photos of Jayalalithaa and MGR. They were accompa nied by S Manoharan, 45, his head shaved and hair trimmed in the shape of two leaves. “Every elec tion, since 1982, we have been fol lowing Amma all over TN as she campaigns,“ said Jayaraman.
As they waited patiently for Amma to make an appearance, many broke into a jig, keeping rhythm with the music that blared from the speakers. Others waved excitedly as drones with cameras flew overhead. All chaos erupted as Jayalalithaa took to the podium, with men, women and children clambering onto chairs while people in the rows behind shouted at them to get down, eager to catch a glimpse of their leader.
Silence fell as Jayalalithaa started speaking, with people breaking into applause whenever she referred to her rival DMK leader Karunanidhi. But it was her announcement about phasing out liquor shops that got the greatest applause.
“She has given notebooks, laptops and cycles to students and distributed mixies and grinders to the women. That will definitely get her votes,“ said S Manoharan, 45, a resident of Madhavaram.