Chief Minister and AINRC supremo N. Rangasamy has a reputation for simplicity in public life, but in the posters put up by his supporters ahead of his birthday, the man bears down on you in a variety of avatars — a biker sporting a jacket and coolers, a cowboy lookalike seated cross-legged on a chair, and even as a Roger Federer impersonation replete with tennis racket and headband.
With the Chief Minister set to turn 66 on Tuesday, the city is awash with giant posters and cut-outs as die-hard followers vie to outdo each other in a display of loyalty. And the scale of hero worship just keeps increasing year after year.
The entire stretch of Vazhudavur Road in Thattanchavadi, which is Mr. Rangasamy’s constituency, is chock-a-block with giant arches, banners and other types of displays.
In fact, over successive years, Mr. Rangasamy’s birthday bash has been turned into a creativity competition of sorts among by his loyalists, including senior party leaders and MLAs.
Last year, posters depicted Mr. Rangasamy in the league of US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a saintly figure and as an impersonation of Kollywood stars Vijay and Ajith.
It is also a tradition to feature the AINRC leader as the protagonist of the blockbuster release of the time — last year it was as an armoured warrior themed on the fantasy war film ‘300’, while this year, the posters depict him in a range of Bahubali avatars.
He is also shown in one of the posters as being greeted with a bouquet by superstar Rajinikanth, in another as an armour-clad knight riding a lion.
However, one image that recurs year after year is that of Mr. Rangasamy in tennis shorts. This is as truthful as these posters can get as the Chief Minister’s daily routine includes a few games of tennis at the Gorimedu grounds.
AINRC leaders want the scale of celebrations this year to surpass that of the previous year.
Blood donation camps, ‘annadanam’ , awards for meritorious students, and prizes for winners of various contests for children are among the programmes. A highlight will be presenting Mr. Rangasamy with a “seer varisai’ (plate loaded with savouries and fruits, 66 varieties to be precise).
For the AINRC leadership, the birthday celebrations of their leader is also an occasion to give a booster shot in the arm for the rank and file as it gets into election mode in the months ahead.
However, the ruling party’s overdrive in erecting banners and cut-outs has annoyed the Opposition.
The Opposition parties have criticised the government for allowing the city to be flooded with banners and also expressed strong reservations over the non-implementation of the Puducherry Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement Act) passed in 2009.
Leader of Opposition V. Vaithilingam said that the government was violating the orders of the Madras High Court on putting up banners and hoardings.
The indiscriminate erection of banners is a perfect example of violations committed under the watch of the government.
Though officials have powers vested with them no action has been taken against violators, he said.
