In all probability, AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa may launch her election campaign from Madurai, the land of Goddess Meenakshi, on Friday.
Party sources say she would address her maiden election meeting at Pudur bus stand located near Alagarkoil (the ancient Vaishnavite temple) in suburban Madurai.
“Amma will most probably commence her campaign from Madurai like she did in the 2001 Assembly elections. It gave her a clear mandate and sent her to Fort St George,” says an AIADMK leader.
It would be either be Pudur or Mynaa Teppakulam in Keelavasal. If Pudur is closer to Alagarkoil, Mynaa Teppakulam is closer to the abode of Goddess Meenakshi — the presiding deity of Madurai.
Sources said, “The AIADMK leader was supposed to begin her campaign trail from Madurai on Wednesday and permission for helipad was also sought. However, it was cancelled today (Tuesday).”
Since seat-sharing arrangements with MDMK’s Vaiko are yet to be settled, her campaign hsa been postponed to Friday.
Ms Jayalalithaa would stay at her favourite Sangam Hotel on Alagarkoil road in Madurai for a week and cover southern districts. Stages are to be erected at Pudur bus stand and Mynaa Teppakulam facing temple towers, sources said.
Police too said AIADMK urban district secretary Sellur K. Raju had sought permission for putting up flex boards and public address systems on Friday along her campaign route – Sangam Hotel, Pudur bus stand, Goripalayam, Keelavasal, Villapuram, Paravai, Vilangudi, Guru Theatre, Karimedu and back to her hotel.
Party functionaries in the district are jubilant that her decision to commence campaigning from the Temple City is itself a blow to DMK strongman and Madurai MP M.K. Alagiri.
Pudur falls in Madurai north post delimitation and AIADMK, it is learnt, wants to keep it with itself.