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Friday started with a sombre note at All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)’s headquarters at Royapettah in Chennai, where party workers had gathered to take part in the 43rd foundation day of the party. While many wore black shirts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other senior leaders wore a dishevelled look, with beards and dull expressions.
However, the moment news broke that party chief and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, the somewhat grim mood changed into celebration and revelry.
The scene was the same at Poes Garden, Jayalalithaa’s residence.
Some senior Cabinet ministers were seen joining the cadres on the road hugging each other and sharing sweets.
Until then, the foundation day function had looked like an unceremonious event.
Despite heavy rain, cadres gathered and shouted slogans hailing Amma (Tamil for mother), as Jayalalithaa is called by party members, and burst crackers to celebrate the news.
