Chennai: The Kapaleeshwaran temple hall is full of devotees of a different kind - the kind that loves to pose for the cameras, wear white khadi and make speeches. They're here to celebrate the birthday of their Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
And if you were at the Kapaaleeshwaran temple on Wednesday, then surely you couldn't have missed the annaprasadam offered on the occassion of Amma's birthday.
A follower, P Ramasamy says, "We are celebrating the whole year!"
Apart from the special pooja and annadanam(distributing food), AIADMK members had also lined up 58 women who were given silver kumkum boxes and brass lamps - 58 women because Jayalalithaa turns 58 on February 24.
Call it creativity, or gimmicks; there are many surprises at the function. An MGR duplicate serves food to make people believe that the great leader is still among them.
The duplicate - Dorairaj - says, "I'm here for Amma, so that she gets more votes and more people support."
At the annadanam, the party cadres seemed sincere at first, but soon after the first batch was served, the portions got smaller.
2000 people are supposed to be fed. The curd rice portions soon dwindled and were served without pickle. Politicians and policemen were eating the food meant for the poor people.
However, a lot of people came with motives other than wishing Amma - to get what they wanted just before the assembly elections.
Says Girija, one of the women visiting the temple, "They should give out sarees and gold chains. We'll definitely vote for Amma then."
Others say they want a house.
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