It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

Team TOI

08.04.2021

A day after polling ended, a photograph of MNM chief Kamal Haasan with film director Lokesh Kanagaraj seated inside an aircraft was circulated with the caption, “Arambikalaangala?’’ (Shall we begin?) suggesting that the shooting of the actor’s next movie was to commence. If Kamal headed to the shooting spot after a daunting month of campaigning in heat and dust, several other political leaders were relaxing on Wednesday. Most of them, however, either ruled out a vacation or said they are yet to decide on one.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami took a break at his house in Salem on Wednesday. Party functionaries said he preferred not to meet them for a day as he was suffering from a sore throat. “He may not take a vacation. He has no plans to travel for the next few days,” said a party functionary.

DMK partymen said they would unwind for a few days depending on the plans of their party chief M K Stalin. For Stalin, it was back to his normal schedule of going to Anna Arivalayam, his party headquarters, around 10am. “He met party leaders and received their feedback on polling,” said a DMK source. With the Covid spike, Stalin is unlikely to travel abroad, the source added.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam was in his home in Bodinayakanur in the morning and later left for Periyakulam. “The deputy CM would visit Chennai in a day or two,” said sources close to him.

AIADMK leaders say they will continue to ‘serve the public’ as they are still ministers and MLAs. “The Covid situation is getting worse. So, it looks like back to routine work for me,” said revenue minister R B Udhayakumar, who was at his office in Madurai meeting party functionaries.

DMK’s PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan who was busy poring over databases to figure out reasons for poor voter turnout in his constituency, said a break was ruled out. “We have to do preparatory work for government formation,” he said.

Tamil Naduu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri spent the day quietly at his village Keerapalayam in Cuddalore district. “I went around our fields and spent time with the family after a long time,” Alagiri told TOI. Alagiri plans to get admitted to a hospital and go for a health overhaul.

It will be a complete rest for PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss and his junior Anbumani Ramadoss until the poll results are announced on May 2. “Both the leaders are with their families at Thailapuram Gardens in Villupuram. There is no specific schedule for the next one month,” said a party spokesperson.

ON TO THE NEXT TASK: The photo tweeted by director Lokesh Kanagaraj on Wednesday indicated that MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan has begun shoot for his next film. (right) Revenue minister R B Udhayakumar in his office in Madurai