CHENNAI: Nearly 24 hours after she set off from Bengaluru on Monday morning, V K Sasikala, confidante of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, reached Chennai on Tuesday morning to a rousing reception.
Accompanied by her nephew and AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, Sasikala reached her new address at T Nagar in Chennai. Her convoy reached Poonamallee on the outskirts of the city around 3.30am, stopping at more than 50 locations to receive the cheering, boisterous AMMK cadre. At every halt, Sasikala was greeted with fireworks, flowers and slogans – ‘Thyagathalaivi Chinnamma’ (Embodiment of sacrifice).
Close to 4am, as scores of partymen shouted slogans, hailing her, Sasikala's vehicle entered Ramavaram Gardens, AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran's residence and now a memorial that houses a school for the visually and hearing impaired. Sasikala garlanded the statue of MGR, unveiled by her in 2017. A huge garland of fruits and flowers was held by a crane to welcome Sasikaka near Ramavaram.
Sasikala paid floral tributes to MGR even as a hit song from his film blared. The song 'Neenga Nalla Irukkonum Naadu Munnera' (you should be in good health for the state to prosper) from MGR's hit film “Idhayakkani” was played in all film theatres in the state, when he was undergoing treatment in an hospital in the US during 1985-86
The AIADMK was ruling the state even then, after the party led by MGR returned to power for the third time after the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assembly in 1984, in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination. MGR won the elections while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Brooklyn in the US. The AIADMK and Congress were allies then.
Sasikala and Dhinakaran were seen relaxing for a few minutes at the residence, having a glass of water but declining any further hospitality, citing time constraints. Sasikala was also accompanied by her nephew S Venkatesh, who had been reinducted into the AIADMK along with Dhinakaran, hours before she left for Bengaluru prison in 2017. Both her appointments were nullified by the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami later.
Earlier, the vehicles ahead and part of the convoy faced trouble after Sriperumbudur when police began diverting the vehicles citing the movement of an empty but lengthy multi axle loader. At 3.45am, Sasikala's convoy crossed Iyappanthangal. Folk artistes welcomed the convoy as supporters showered flower petals on the vehicle. Despite the wee hours, huge crowds had waited to welcome Sasikala.
An enthusiastic crowd welcomed her at Guindy in Chennai with drumbeats and showers of flower petals. It was a boisterous reception for Sasikala again at Kathipara Junction, with drums beats and breaking of coconuts. At Little Mount, a large crowd greeted her with traditional lamps. At Saidapet, as enthusiastic supporters gathered around her vehicle, a tired police force tried to regulate the crowds. Tens of partymen accompanied her vehicle in motorbikes, holding aloft AMMK flags. Chenda melam beats welcomed Sasikaka as women lined up with the traditional aarti to greet her.
Dhinakaran thanked the people for the love showered on his aunt and the welcome given to her with a smile, despite a long wait. Sasikala finally reached No.179, Habibullah Road, T Nagar in Chennai which will be her home for now. The house is adjacent to her niece J Krishnapriya's residence, where she stayed during her parole in 2017. Krishnapriya is the daughter of J Ilavarasi, her co-convict in the disproportionate assets case.