CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa returned home on Saturday evening after three weeks amidst rousing reception by her party functionaries and cadre. Jayalalithaa arrived at the airport here at 5 pm, and it took her one hour to reach her residence as the convoy had to literally wade through thousands of cadre gathered on both sides of the road.
At the airport, she was received by AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan, State ministers, MPs, MLAs and functionaries of various wings of the party. Later, throughout her journey home, AIADMK cadre showered flower petals on the car in which the AIADMK chief was travelling. A smiling Jayalalithaa was seen waving the victory symbol at the cadre.
Slogans like “Long Live Amma” and “Makkal Mudhalvar Vaazhga” (long live people’s Chief Minister) were raised by the cadre. Women cadre were seen standing with poornakumbam and prasadam from many temples. They also performed aarthi to welcome their leader. The overwhelmed cadre said God had answered their prayers for the release of their leader and performed special poojas at temples across the State, including Chennai. They also played panchavaathyam to receive their leader.
At Kotturpuram, Jayalalithaa’s vehicle stopped for a moment at the Varasiddhi Vinayakar temple where she offered prayers. Expecting the arrival of their party chief around noon, AIADMK cadre, braving the heavy rains, were waiting at the airport since 9 am. Jayalalithaa passed through Meenambakkam, Pazhavanthangal, Alandur, Azarkhana, Guindy, Kathipara junction, Raj Bhavan, Kotturpuram and Alwarpet.