Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam will share the dais at the MGR Centenary celebration in Ariyalur, the first public event since the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK, on Wednesday.
While cadre of the AIADMK have planned to accord a grand reception to Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam, the official machinery has made arrangements to bring more than 11,000 beneficiaries to the function.
According to sources, upon instruction from the Chief Minister’s Office, Information and Public Relations Department officials have hurriedly prepared fresh invitations by including Mr. Panneerselvam’s name. The invitations approved by the Chief Minister reached Ariyalur on Tuesday.
The invitations, which were printed before the merger of the AIADMK factions, have been withdrawn. A team of officials has been sent to Chennai to hand over invitations personally to Ministers and the frontline leaders.
Partymen are keen to make the event a show of strength of the AIADMK post-merger as it would be a keenly watched meeting. It is expected that all Ministers and MLAs, who support the merger, will participate in the function. Speaker P. Dhanapal will preside over the function.
Mr. Palaniswami will also declare open a portrait of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai, Chief Government Whip S. Rajendran and Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam, who has been appointed as deputy convener of the AIADMK, are also scheduled to address the gathering.
Unprecedented security has been made in Ariyalur in view of the visit of Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneeerselvam. According to sources, more than 3,500 police personnel have been drafted for bandobust.