Amma hits the campaign trail

As loudspeakers blared hits from MGR movies, and AIADMK flags fluttered...

As loudspeakers blared hits from MGR movies, and AIADMK flags fluttered, uniformed guards and workers in party gear took position at Saidapet on Chennai8217;s arterial road.

At about 6 pm, CM and party supremo, J Jayalalithaa appeared. Followed by a long convoy of cars and vans, her election van halted close to the Ilangaliamman Kali temple. The sloganeering was deafening. With spotlights adjusted to light up her face, and close friend Sasikala Natarajan seated behind her, she kicked off her campaign, to slogans of 8216;Long live Amma, our permanent chief minister.8217;8217;

Her 10-minute speech tuned to a 8216;feel good8217; note, the CM said it was the 8216;8216;rock-solid support8217;8217; of voters that formed the 8216;8216;basis8217;8217; of her government8217;s performance. 8216;8216;The faith reposed in me during the last elections has not been misplaced. We have exceeded all your expectations by performing well.8217;8217; As Sasikala leaned forward and flipped the pages stiff sheets with big letters for Amma to see better placed in front, Jayalalithaa, declared: 8216;8216;Your dream became schemes, and the schemes became projects which are today before you as achievements of my government. Even people of other states join you in praising these achievements.8217;8217;

She listed her achievements: Free textbooks and free bicycles for students, the farmers8217; security scheme, Rs 3.50-per-kilo PDS rice, lowest domestic power tariff, free power for huts and pumpsets, lowest bus fares and efficient public transport service 8216;8216;despite five fuel hikes by the Centre,8217;8217; free dhotis and saris that benefited 3.28 crore people, fast and efficient relief work during three years of drought followed by tsunami and floods, economic self-reliance for women through self-help groups, 8216;annadhanam free meal in temples, churches and dargahs, and the killing of dreaded bandit Veerappan, 8216;8216;who was considered invincible.8217;8217; This was greeted with loud roars of approval.

The only furious note in her otherwise high-spirited speech was her attack on archrival, DMK chief, M Karunanidhi, and the 13 Central ministers from Tamil Nadu. 8216;8216;We achieved all this despite the Centre8217;s stepmotherly attitude8230;,8217;8217; she said. Winding up her speech seeking votes for the Saidapet candidate, standing humbly on the seat of an open jeep with folded hands, Jayalalithaa sped away to her next halt in the city. As the caravan sped away, several disappointed people in the crowd complained that the public address system had failed and they could hear nothing that Jayalalithaa had spoken. Women holding silver urns with coconuts and fading jasmines, meant to be the reception committee for the traditional 8216;poorna kumbh8217; welcome for the 8216;puratchi thalaivi8217; revolutionary leader as Jayalalithaa is hailed by partymen were sulking. They never got anywhere close to Amma.

On Chennai top cop, Jaya gets HC reprieve

CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK scored a temporary victory on Friday with the Madras HC ruling that the EC order directing the state government to transfer the Chennai Police Commissioner was not binding on the Tamil Nadu government 8216;8216;at this point of time8217;8217;. The EC could issue such directions only after the notification was issued for the Assembly elections. 8212; ENS