DINDIGUL: Hundreds of cadres of Deepa Peravai, launched in support of late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa’s niece, virtually stole the show pushing behind the ruling party at the 100th birth anniversary of AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran here on Tuesday.
Even as the Peravai cadres reached the spot to garland MGR’s statue, the police did not allow them. First, the AIADMK functionaries led by former Mayor V. Marudharaj garlanded the statue near the central bus stand in the morning accompanied by a less than around 200 people.
In contrast, around 500 Peravai cadres, mostly AIADMK workers and loyalists of MGR and Jayalalithaa, turned up at the venue. Meanwhile, inner party conflicts too came to the fore as dissidents in the party were pushed to the back row in the celebrations.
Supporters of Ms. Deepa claimed that the police allowed them only in batches to reach the venue.
Loyalists of MGR and Jayalalithaa, holding Ms. Deepa’s portrait in their hands, took out a rally and garlanded the portrait of MGR and Jayalalithaa at Sirunaickanpatti, Vellode and Panjampatti. Sections of AIADMK cadres at Pillaiyarnatham, Chinna Kalayamputhur in Palani block, Mallaiyapuram, Athoor and Seevalsaragu erected Ms. Deepa’s banner and distributed sweets to the public. The Deepa Peravai also intensified enrolment of cadres.
In Panjamapatii also, two rival groups of AIADMK cadres quarrelled over hoisting the party flag. The police intervened and brought the situation under control.
