Kamal Haasan lands in Tiruchi

With expectations running high on the maiden public meeting of newly founded Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) here on Wednesday, its president and actor Kamal Haasan arrived here to a rousing reception on Tuesday.

Amidst thunderous music, cheering and sloganeering by his fans, he alighted from an air conditioned coach of Vaigai Express at the railway junction here. Waving to his fans and followers who thronged the station from different parts of the district, Mr. Haasan slowly walked along platform No 1 towards the main entrance to board his vehicle. With several passengers jostling with his fans to catch a glimpse of the actor, the police had a tough time in controlling the crowd.

Interestingly, when most of the contemporary political leaders prefer air travel to reach Tiruchi, Mr. Kamal travelled in a passenger train from Chennai to Tiruchi, much to the delight of his fans.

“Train travel of our leader denotes that he wants to be with the people so that he can understand the life pattern and sufferings of the common man,” says S.P. Vanjinathan, a fan of Srirangam.

On the way to a hotel on Race Course Road, banners and festoons put up by his fans and cadre for the MNM’s public meeting greeted Mr.Haasan, who is expected to spell out his policies and stand on various issues mainly the Cauvery issue, which has occupied the centre stage of politics in the State in the recent days.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the public meeting at G. Corner, where an open stage is being erected.

Roads that lead to the public meeting venue are dotted with flags, banners and graffiti of MNM featuring Mr. Kamalhassan.

To make the meeting a success, party cadre have been visiting various parts of the city to invite people. They expect a decent crowd for the public meeting to be held on Wednesday evening.

“We do not believe in bringing participants by offering food packets, money and drinks. We are fed up with this bad culture being followed by various parties to show strength. But we will assemble in large numbers on our own means to listen to the views of our leader on various current issues and his plan to cleanse the system. We are longing for a change and our leader will bring about the change,” says T. Kuppusamy, a member of his fan club since early 1980s.