Chennai: The ruling AIADMK on Wednesday held its grand Iftar party with Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami lending a dignified leadership at the table. The party chose to ignore jailed 'general secretary' Sasikala Natarajan and her beleaguered deputy TTV Dhinakaran while drawing out its list of invitees for the elaborate function at the sprawling Chennai Trade Centre at Nandambakkam in the evening.
A few of TTV supporters showed up at the party, calling the bluff of their faction spearhead Thanga Thamizhchelvan's 'boycott' threat. The Andipatti MLA had announced that the entire gang of 32 would stay from the CM's Iftar party unless their ‘annan’ (elder brother, TTV) gets the red-carpet invite to preside over the function. Nothing like that happened and the nonbu-thirappu at Nandambakkam went off with all smiles.
CM Palaniswami celebrated the occasion with an apt story from Prophet Mohamed’s noble life of love and sharing. Just as the Prophet comforted an orphan kid wailing by the wayside by accepting him as his own child, everyone should realise the potent good that love and sharing can bring upon the society even at times of distress, he said, obviously referring to the post-Jayalalithaa turmoil in the party and pleading for quick reconciliation.
That the CM chose to ignore the rabble-rousing threats from the TTV camp and kept his composure became even clearer by the party’s announcement of ‘wholesome’ support of its 122 legislators (not taking into account Speaker P. Dhanapal) for BJP’s Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. It may be recalled that TTV had stated even a couple of days back that Chinnamma (Sasikala) alone would decide on who the party would support. However, it is possible that she had given her nod-willingly or otherwise-considering that Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai met her in her Parappana Agrahara jail on Tuesday, and possibly got that nod to what must have been already settled.
Rival faction chief O. Panneerselvam too had a great story from Prophet’s life at his Iftar party at Egmore’s Ashoka Hotel. He said he borrowed it from Amma's (Jayalalithaa) Iftar speech and it narrated how the Prophet responded with love and concern to even a woman throwing filth upon him. Filled with remorse, the woman fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness.
“The story shows that only those who behave calm and composed will win ultimately while the arrogant would fall despite all their wealth and power”, said OPS. Though he said he was not alluding to anything related to present-day politics, he could not resist declaring that his faction would ultimately emerge victorious on the strength of love and compassion that ensure people’s support.
