Ever since AIADMK MLA P. Purushothaman replaced A. Anbalagan as secretary of Puducherry unit, the division among the AIADMK leaders has often come out in the open.
Immediately after the conviction and jailing of the party general secretary Jayalalithaa on last Saturday by a special court in a disproportionate assets case, the party leaders including its secretary Mr. Purushothaman, Deputy Leader of party legislature unit Mr. Anbalagan and other MLAs- Om Sakthi Sekar, L. Periyasamy and A. Baskar assembled at the party office to chalk out the course of action.
Mr. Purushothaman walked out of the meeting midway giving new fodder for his detractors.
The following day, Mr. Purushothaman and his supporters conducted a fast near the New Bus Stand while Mr. Anbalagan and others conducted rail blockade in the Puducherry Railway Station.
A few reporters chose not to cover the event organised by Mr. Purushothaman since his media managers failed to inform them on time. Again on Friday, while the party’s urban secretary D. Ravindran called the press persons to give a bandh call, party MLAs, barring Mr. Purushothaman, were present. Asked about the absence of Mr. Puroshothaman, an MLA said he was away in Karaikal, participating in a fast by party workers in protest against the conviction of their leader.
On the day of bandh, Mr. Purushothaman gathered along with his supporters near the New Bus Stand while Mr. Anbalagan and other MLAs converged at Anna Square.
When rulers violate the rules
The argument that adopting charms to ward off jealousy and evil eyes is a personal thing hardly applies to a government function and the rulers violate what they preach to others on public safety.
Eyebrows were raised at the breaking of a pumpkin at a government function in Puducherry right on the middle of the road — a practice normally banned for ensuring safety of motorists.
The occasion was laying the foundation stone for renovation works of the historic municipal (Mairie) building on the Beach Road.
At the end of the function a volunteer broke a pumpkin to keep at bay evil eyes as per rituals.
Police personnel who were present at the function venue seemed to be less worried about it.
Reporting by R. Sivaraman and S. Prasad
