On parole, Sasikala returns to little fanfare
Pradeep Kumar| TNN | Oct 7, 2017, 04:57 IST
HIGHLIGHTS
Despite the high profile nature of Sasikala's return, there was no grandiose element in the "homecoming" ritual
The number of women party workers awaiting Sasikala was on the lower side
CHENNAI: It wasn't until a few minutes before V K Sasikala arrived at #181, Habibullah Road, that AIADMK party men raised slogans hailing the parolee.
There was no palpable excitement in the air. Despite the high profile nature of Sasikala's return, there was no grandiose element in the "homecoming" ritual. "She is not back for good. It is only five days," mumbled an AIADMK worker. Sasikala is out on parole till October 12.
Sandwiched between Usman Road and Mambalam High Road, this stretch of Habibullah Road, which Sasikala's niece Krishnapriya calls home, insulates the locality from the outside world chaos. On Friday, all eyes were trained on the dimly lit two-storey building, much to the chagrin of other local residents.
"I find this nonsensical," said Shanmugham, a local resident. He lives in the apartment opposite to Krishnapriya's house. At least half a dozen high rise structures, with street facing balconies, overlook her house. Yet, the number of people peering through these vantage points were few.
"What else did you expect? People here know better. She (Sasikala) is a convict, who is out on parole. It hasn't been that long (since conviction) for people to forget," Shanmugham added.
Unlike Jayalalithaa, the number of women party workers awaiting Sasikala was on the lower side. Two dozen women, among them senior citizens, told TOI that they had come all the way from Tondiarpet to greet Sasikala. "Nobody paid us money to be here," one of the women said.
With emotions running low, it required individual moments of shock and awe from determined cadre to stir party workers up. When one party worker shouted "Drohi (traitor) Edappadi Chinnamma," in a monumental slip-of-the-tongue moment, party workers around him laughed it off. "Nobody here knows whom or how to praise," said a worker.
LATEST COMMENT She will make OPS and EPS spend sleepless nights for five daysAppa Durai
When Sasikala's SUV strolled in at 9.55 pm, the assembled crowd, numbering a couple hundred, roared to life. Five minutes later, as the iron gate closed behind Sasikala's vehicle, the clamour died and the crowd started to disperse. Throughout her travel, in Vellore and Krishnagiri districts, there were only a handful of party workers who gathered to express support and threw flower petals on her car.
Earlier, prominent faces in the TTV Dhinakaran faction had arrived at the venue as early as 5 pm. Apsara Reddy, former spokesperson C R Saraswathi were the first to take their places in front of the gate. Yesteryear comedian 'Gundu' Kalyanam triggered a selfie buzz among youngsters at the venue, who mostly wanted to be pictured alongside his frame.
Pradeep Kumar| TNN | Oct 7, 2017, 04:57 IST
HIGHLIGHTS
Despite the high profile nature of Sasikala's return, there was no grandiose element in the "homecoming" ritual
The number of women party workers awaiting Sasikala was on the lower side
CHENNAI: It wasn't until a few minutes before V K Sasikala arrived at #181, Habibullah Road, that AIADMK party men raised slogans hailing the parolee.
There was no palpable excitement in the air. Despite the high profile nature of Sasikala's return, there was no grandiose element in the "homecoming" ritual. "She is not back for good. It is only five days," mumbled an AIADMK worker. Sasikala is out on parole till October 12.
Sandwiched between Usman Road and Mambalam High Road, this stretch of Habibullah Road, which Sasikala's niece Krishnapriya calls home, insulates the locality from the outside world chaos. On Friday, all eyes were trained on the dimly lit two-storey building, much to the chagrin of other local residents.
"I find this nonsensical," said Shanmugham, a local resident. He lives in the apartment opposite to Krishnapriya's house. At least half a dozen high rise structures, with street facing balconies, overlook her house. Yet, the number of people peering through these vantage points were few.
"What else did you expect? People here know better. She (Sasikala) is a convict, who is out on parole. It hasn't been that long (since conviction) for people to forget," Shanmugham added.
Unlike Jayalalithaa, the number of women party workers awaiting Sasikala was on the lower side. Two dozen women, among them senior citizens, told TOI that they had come all the way from Tondiarpet to greet Sasikala. "Nobody paid us money to be here," one of the women said.
With emotions running low, it required individual moments of shock and awe from determined cadre to stir party workers up. When one party worker shouted "Drohi (traitor) Edappadi Chinnamma," in a monumental slip-of-the-tongue moment, party workers around him laughed it off. "Nobody here knows whom or how to praise," said a worker.
LATEST COMMENT She will make OPS and EPS spend sleepless nights for five daysAppa Durai
When Sasikala's SUV strolled in at 9.55 pm, the assembled crowd, numbering a couple hundred, roared to life. Five minutes later, as the iron gate closed behind Sasikala's vehicle, the clamour died and the crowd started to disperse. Throughout her travel, in Vellore and Krishnagiri districts, there were only a handful of party workers who gathered to express support and threw flower petals on her car.
Earlier, prominent faces in the TTV Dhinakaran faction had arrived at the venue as early as 5 pm. Apsara Reddy, former spokesperson C R Saraswathi were the first to take their places in front of the gate. Yesteryear comedian 'Gundu' Kalyanam triggered a selfie buzz among youngsters at the venue, who mostly wanted to be pictured alongside his frame.
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