February 25, 2013
CHENNAI: Celebrations to mark Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's 65th birthday began on Sunday across the state amidst much pomp and fanfare with posters everywhere declaring that 'Amma' would be victorious in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
February 25, 2013
CHENNAI: Celebrations to mark Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's 65th birthday began on Sunday across the state amidst much pomp and fanfare with posters everywhere declaring that 'Amma' would be victorious in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Adding to the mood of jubilation among AIADMK cadres was the recent notification of the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and a green signal for converting the new assembly complex into a hospital.
Messages and greetings pouring in for the CM included one from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who called Jayalalithaa to wish her. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, BJP leaders Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj, CPI leaders D Raja and D Pandian, CPM leader G Ramakrishnan and others also greeted the CM over phone, a statement from the government said. Actor Rajnikanth and other many other film personalities sent birthday messages to the Chief Minister, it added.
Jayalalithaa, a couple of days ago, had advised party workers to avoid celebrating her birthday and spend their time and energy instead to ensure that the AIADMK wins all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state and Puducherry combined in the 2014 general elections. Sunday's celebrations suggest a concerted effort to boost the AIADMK chief's image by using the occasion to highlight her record as CM.
At the party headquarters, state ministers including O Panneerselvam, Natham R Viswanathan and KP Munusamy cut a giant 65-kg cake and distributed it to the public. Party men also organised mass meals and blood donation camps and handed out gifts.
"We received a very impressive and warm welcome from farmers when we visited the villages to celebrate Amma's birthday. Farmers hailed amma as "Cauvery Thai" (Mother Cauvery) for her victory in the Supreme Court. They thanked and wished her wholeheartedly. Our district has also organized special prayers in temples and churches," Thanjavur North district AIADMK secretary and MLA M Rangasamy told TOI. He believes that the party will win all 40 constituencies. "Amma will play a vital role at the national level," he added.
Among ministers who took an initiative were transport minister V Senthil Balaji who arranged blood donation camps across the state in which transport corporation employees and their family members were among those who donated about 18,000 units of blood. Agriculture minister S Damodaran launched a tree planting drive in Coimbatore. About two lakh saplings would be planted in the district as part of the targeted planting of 65 lakh saplings across Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK party came to power in 2011 after winning the 14th assembly elections. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the third time on May 16 that year.
An enthusiastic supporter, K Sukumar, said: "Jayalalithaa will always strive to do the best for the state and her recent strategies on Cauvery and Sri Lankan Tamils issue has given her a momentum. Opposition parties seem to be weak. She has been targeting a massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections to gain a hold at the Centre. I think this time she has very bright chances.''
Courtesy: TOI
