When DMDK president Vijayakant’s campaign vehicle, a white Tempo Traveller, broke down on Wednesday, little did cadre and supporters realise that this would halt their leader’s campaign in Madurai constituency. The ‘mystery’ deepened when the leader refused to take any other vehicle and insisted that this one be repaired.
“We were surprised and shocked to learn that our leader was upset over the vehicle developing a snag. Since the mechanic was not able to fix it before Thursday evening, our leader cancelled his campaign in Madurai,” party functionaries said.
It was then that a source revealed it was the ‘number sentiment’ attached to the vehicle that put the brakes on Vijayakant’s campaign trail.
The DMDK leader, it was said, had been using only the Tempo Traveller (TN 22 BS 9005) for electioneering ever since he launched his party in the year 2005.
And the love for the number has yet another tale behind it - the car gifted to him by his mentor, the late chief minister MGR’s wife Janaki Ammal, a station wagon, bore the number 2005. However, that vehicle was not suited for long-distance travel and has been stationed at the party office in Chennai. Vijayakant had tried to obtain the same registration number for the Tempo Traveller as well, but failed and ended up getting the 9005.
Even for hoisting the DMDK flag during its launch in Madurai, he arrived in the car gifted by Janaki Ammal. “The vehicle is maintained well and party leaders worship it before starting on any political campaign,” a senior DMDK leader said.
It was only after their leader got his vehicle repaired on Thursday and embarked on his campaign tour to Dindigul and Theni constituencies on Friday, did his supporters heave a sigh of relief.