All Roads Lead To Thiruvanmiyur

Anticipation has been high in the run-up to the AI ADMK's general council and executive committee meetings in the city today as chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa is expected to spell out her party's election strategy ahead of the assembly election. While some fringe groups, including Sarathkumar's AISMK and some dalit and Muslim outfits, are hoping to be accommodated, Jayalalithaa is unlikely to take any alliance decision in a hurry.
While the AIADMK leader appears confident about the party's prospects and would like to cautiously probe possibilities, Thursday meetings are likely to provide a platform to boost cadre morale and check the status on the im plementation of various welfare schemes. The Amma brand of products and services are Jay alalithaa's strength and ensuring that they reach beneficiaries would take precedence on the party's pre-poll agenda.
“Besides fulfilling the norms, the meet ing will attempt to activate cadres and give them a plan of action ahead of assembly election,“ said Tamil journalist and writer M Kasina than. But what is bound to cause concern to the AIADMK leader ship is the level of despondency within the party . “Normally , the ruling party is always confident of winning the election again.
Moreover, there is no consolidated opposition either. But, the recent devastating floods in Chennai has triggered an anti-incumbency mood in the state,“ said Kasinathan.
AIADMK partymen are, however, putting up a brave front. “Amma's biggest strength is the many welfare schemes she has unveiled. We have helped by ensuring that they reach lakhs of people,“ said a senior AIADMK leader and general council member from Madurai, seeking anonymity .Dismissing suggestions that the AIADMK's inability to cobble together a strong alliance could work against it, the leader said, “There are no strong opposition fronts either. They are all scattered and this is bound to help our party ,“ he said.

Reports about Jayalalithaa's health condition have also been a source of worry for senior partymen, who are banking on her “electrifying“ poll campaign. Jayalalithaa has been the star campaigner for the AIADMK. Few or none in the party are capable of pulling in the crowds like she does.“Whether she would be able to undertake such an extensive campaign is an issue that is bound to impact AIADMK fortunes. Second line leaders are unable to react sharply to opposition criticism about the functioning of the government on various issues,“ said Kasinathan. But, senior leaders are confident that even her restricted tours would have the desired impact. “Times have changed. Earlier, a political leader would visit all 234 constituencies. Then, they campaigned in just the districts. Now, technological advancement has changed everything and Amma needs to visit only a few districts,“ said a senior general council member from Coimbatore on condition of anonymity .
The meeting of the decision-making bodies may not address all these issues, but for Jayalalithaa and her partymen, coming together after a long gap, the occasion could prove to be a rejuvenation of sorts. A resolution to be passed at the meeting would ratify Jayalalithaa's election as party general secretary and reiterate her supremacy . For the partymen, the get-together could provide a forum for guidance on how to prepare for the polls and take on the various opposition fronts.