Jayalalithaa addresses rally under AC while attendees bear brunt of heat

The sun god has decided to spice up the battle ground in Tamil Nadu, and the leaders here are beating the heat to ensure a successful campaign season. Not everyday do the people in the state get to see their beloved leaders, and most fanatics don't miss the opportunity. While this once in a while chance makes many feel blessed, it has turned fatal for several others.

Temperature in most part of the state have already started touching 40 degrees or more and the scorching sun is what the people witness more at a campaign location than their beloved leaders. Already, four people have died at two different public meetings of incumbent CM and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa's Virudhachalam and Salem, but nothing much has changed.

It is alleged by opposition parties that Jayalalithaa is making it a point to return home to Chennai after every meeting, as late evening meetings are proving to be a problem, as the chopper cannot take off after sunset.

A close aide of M Karunanidhi, and a DMK leader Subaveerapandian said, "I don't think she is capable of changing herself. This has a huge impact on the people of the state, she will sit with eight ACs facing her, she will be seated in an air-conditioned stage, while people will be seated under the hot sun and this has caused the death of so many people."

It is reported that Jayalalithaa sits on a dais, where the temperature is around 18-19 degrees Celsius while the temperature in the public meeting arena will be around 40 degree Celsius.

"I think it is appalling and unbelievable that someone can be so heartless. She has been the cause of four people dying just because it suits her and it is a convenient time for her helicopter to land and take off that she comes at this time. In this heat, how can people be made to wait for hours without any shade or water right under the sun?" questioned DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi.

But even as the opposition criticises Jayalalithaa for insensitivity, nothing really deters the devotion of the AIADMK cadres. While the opposition parties criticise, party followers have a different perspective. "This is the fault of the Election Commission. They are not supposed to keep election during the summer. If they do, there will be problems like this," said Abdul Rehman an AIADMK follower.

Of course when the ladies want to see their Amma no one can stop them, is the opinion of the AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi. She adds, "Ladies are coming to see their Amma speak. Do you think we can compel people ? They are coming despite hot weather. Lakhs and lakhs are coming, they want to see Amma's face and hear Amma's speech."

"In a temple, God will be inside the shrine and the public will be outside. We treat our Amma like our God," said an AIADMK activist.

This though is not the opinion of the general public in the state, there are many who are critical about the whole sycophancy taking place in the state. "They need to know what people want. They need to feel the heat. Be with the people," said a disappointed Raghavan, a resident of Chennai. The system hardly pays heed to such voices of discontent and continue to run its own course.

The widespread criticism has at least brought a slight change. Instead of the chopper Jayalalithaa now commutes via flight and susbsequently the meetings are being held in cities like Madurai which has an airport. With the temperature set to rise in the upcoming days, people are just praying that he battle for power does not turn fatal for the rest.