AIADMK workers all over the State and Pondicherry celebrated the 68th birthday of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with a lot of pomp and show on Wednesday by cutting cakes, bathing her photos with milk and sporting Jayalalithaa tattoos.
The whole State wore a festive look as Ministers, party leaders and cadre who were overjoyed with the results of a recent opinion poll predicting that their beloved ‘Amma’ (as Jayalalithaa is addressed affectionately) would return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections, cut giant birthday cakes, each weighing 68 kgs, all over Tamil Nadu. Thousands of cadre also performed “Abhishekam” with milk over life-sized pictures of their supreme leader.
In Chennai, more than 1,000 AIADMK cadre tattooed Amma’s image on their arms and special prayers, poojas and hawans were held in temples across the State for the good health and success of Jayalalithaa in all her endeavours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues, political personalities and a bevy of film stars extended birthday greetings to Jayalalithaa.
Modi greeted Jayalalithaa over phone and the latter thanked the Prime Minister for his wishes, said a release issued by the TN Government. “Birthday wishes to Jayalalithaaji. May the Almighty bless her with a long life filled with good health,” the Prime Minister also tweeted earlier in the day.
TN Governor K Rosaiah in a message to her said, “Your rich acumen, wisdom, dynamism and affection towards the people have made Tamil Nadu a model State for people’s welfare projects. I wish you a long, healthy and happy life in your mission to steer Tamil Nadu to greater heights.”
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, writer and political commentator Cho Ramaswamy, and a host of dignitaries greeted Jayalalithaa on her birthday.
M Kamaraj, member, Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department is organising a 68-day Yagam at Manapakkam Temple in connection with the CM’s birthday. Welfare measures for weaker sections of society and blood donation camps were also held on Wednesday.
A tree plantation drive launched on February 14 is on in TN which envisages planting of 68 lakh tree saplings to celebrate Jayalalithaa’s birthday.
The party cadre is also confident of Amma coming out clean in the disproportionate case, the hearing of which is underway at the apex court.
A senior AIADMK spokesperson said the leaders and cadre were working to ensure that Amma wins all the 234 seats in the next election. “We don’t know anything about alliance partners. Those things will be decided by our Amma. Our mission is to ensure that all AIADMK candidates win the election,” said the spokesperson.
The AIADMK cadre under Rama Ramanathan held gau pooja and ashwa pooja in various temples in Kumbakonam, which recently saw the Mahamaham. “The Mahamaham, the South Indian equivalent of the Kumbh Mela held once in every 12 years, saw more than 50 lakh people taking the holy dip. We also offered annadanam to hundreds of thousands of people. All this augurs well for Amma,” said Ramanathan.