DMK Working President MK Stalin led the agitation by participating in a protest demonstration held in front of the State Guest House at Chepauk.

Leaders of alliance parties, including the Congress, IUML, MDMK and the Left parties participated in the agitiation and shouted slogans denouncing the AIADMK government for the steep hike and demanded that it should be rolled back immediately as it imposed additional burden on the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Stalin termed the hike as 'merciless' and said it had severely affected the poor and the middle class.

He also said by steeply hiking the bus fares, the government has played a dangerous game on the lives of the people and demanded its immediate rollback.

Alleging irregularities even in printing of bus tickets, Mr Stalin said the government has hiked the bus fares without consulting anyone.

Stating that the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had shot down the proposal to hike the bus fares when the transport department was facing losses, he recalled that the DMK Chief had stated that the losses would be borne by the government.

Seeking to know where the revenue earned when the diesel price was Rs 43 per litre in 2013 went, he said if the government had some mercy it should immediately withdraw the hike.

"If the state government did not roll back the hike, the DMK will stage unannounced agitation across the state, like the massive Jallikattu protests involving the youth", Mr Stalin warned.

DMK Rajya Sabha Member Ms Kanimozhi led the agitation in front of the Chennai Collectorate, in which MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and friendly parties participated.

Mr Stalin's son and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin, who had recently hinted of entering politics, led the agitation at suburban Tambaram and said he could be more be seen in political platforms.

The demonstration was held in all the district headquarters and they were led by the respective District Secretaries of the part.