Gloom among AIADMK supporters

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) As all roads led to 'Anna Arivalayam,' the DMK headquarters, following the party-led Democratic Progressive Alliance's emphatic victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Poes Garden residence of AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wore a deserted look.

The bustling locality remained calm and desolate with a handful of security personnel posted on duty near the Chief Minister's residence discussing the election results in hushed tones.

The high-security zone, which was once inaccessible even to mediapersons, has all of a sudden become a free access zone with even curious onlookers being allowed near her house.

Looking gloomy and dejected, a group of die-hard AIADMK cadre, mostly women, descended on the place in autorickshaws.

They anxiously waited for the return of the AIADMK supremo, who took a break after her gruelling 35-day electioneering and was taking rest at her farm house in Siruthavoor, about 25 km from here.

When some TV channels thrusted mike into their face for a reaction, they responded angrily ''what reaction you want to get? For us, Amma is everything. We don't care about any results!'' A party cadre said DMK President M Karunanidhi had ''cheated'' the people by making ''false promises.'' ''He will never fulfil his promise. But, our Amma will not only keep up her word but will also surprise the people by announcing new schemes,'' he said.

As news spread that Ms Jayalalithaa was on her way to Raj Bhavan to tender her resignation to the Governor, more cadre started converging on the area.

Even as mediapersons rushed to Raj Bhavan to get her reaction, news came in that her convoy changed the direction and headed to the Poes Garden residence instead.

While the gathering was eagerly looking for her official vehicle, Ms Jayalalithaa caught them unawares by travelling in the back seat of a Tata Safari.

Even before the crew could spot her and react, the vehicle sped its way into the 'Veda Nilayam,' her residence and the huge iron gates were shut immediately.

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