At the PMK state conference in Salem recently, S. Ramadoss, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, had his partymen guessing. He said he had a surprise gift for Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, who was nominated as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2016 Assembly elections. He gave some time to the partymen to guess what the ‘gift’ was. A little later, Dr. Ramadoss announced that the ‘gift’ was a pen, which, Mr. Ramadoss said, will play a key role in the political scenario of the State and transforming the whole Tamil society, adding that Dr. Ambumani should keep the pen safe and use it to sign the very first order introducing total prohibition in the State after assuming charge as Chief Minister.
“With this pen Dr. Anbumani should sign files for abolishing liquor and closing down all TASMAC shops and bars in the State immediately,” the senior Ramadoss said, amidst applause. Even prior to that Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss in his address had stated that he would accord top priority to the introduction of total prohibition in the State.
A rumour snowballing into a controversy and often resulting in some action is not uncommon in Tamil Nadu police. Days after rumours spread that a senior police official in Chennai threw a lavish party at a beach resort to celebrate his wedding anniversary and received expensive gifts from businessmen, the Home Department shifted him out. Apparently, no police official was invited. The Inspector-General of Police who has been posted to his place had held the same position a year ago. Just two days after he took charge, he too was transferred following rumours that he attended a former Minister’s family function.
Life has changed swiftly for the good for S.Valarmathi, who won the Srirangam by-election, last week. Though her victory was not a surprise, the rapid pace of developments, right from her nomination as the AIADMK candidate to being elected with such a massive margin from a constituency held by her party leader, has been rather overwhelming for the low profile former councillor of the Tiruchi Corporation. But she maintained her poise right through her campaign and on the D-day as well.
The day she was elected, Ms.Valarmathi was whisked away by party office-bearers to Chennai in a chartered flight to meet party general secretary Jayalalithaa. The next morning, she took oath and participated in the Assembly session – almost a fairy tale not many could hope to experience.
When it comes to arguments by counsel or observation by Judges in public interest litigation cases, there is seldom a lighter moment. This was not the case when some petitions relating to the Srirangam bypoll came up before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K.Kaul and Justice M.M.Sundresh.
The advocates were vehement in their arguments. At one stage, the Chief Justice orally observed that it was only in this country that “we fight the elections”. In other countries, they “contest the elections.” So, it is always fighting, he said sending the advocates and the litigant public into peals of laughter.
The recent trade meet conducted by the Chennai Port Trust in Tirupur to draw more knitwear exporters to use Chennai port for sending their export consignments was attended by a number of custom house agents and steamer agents, but only a few exporters. The meet was organised because only 10 per cent of the export consignments were shipped through Chennai port since a majority of exporters preferred the Tuticorin port. Soon after the meet, many custom house agents and trade consultants said the meet would not serve the purpose unless operational and congestion issues in Chennai port were addressed.
(Syed Muthahar Saqaf, S. Vijay Kumar, S. Ganesan, K.T.Sangameswaran and R. Vimal Kumar)
