AISMK state conference at Madurai from Feb 10

Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Feb 8: Amid much expectations, the first ever State conference of the still fledgling political party Akhila India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), launched by popular Kollywood actor R Sarath Kumar, would be held here on February 10, marking the formal entry of the actor into 'active politics'.

Riding on the popularity gained through the tinsel world, Sarath Kumar popularly called as 'Supreme Star' was preparing to make the conference a mega meet.

Belonging to the majority Nadar community, Sarath Kumar made his political debut in 1996, when he joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by M Karunanidhi. He had unsuccessfully contested the Tirunelveli Lok Sabha Constituency in 1998, but was given two times Rajya Sabha membership by the party.

Later, he quit DMK and joined its archrival AIADMK in 2006 and resigned from the party in a couple of months due to differences of opinion with AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa.

He was twice elected as the President of South Indian Cine Actors Association.

Enthusiastic party workers under the supervision of party State General Secretary Karu Nagarajan made massive arrangements for the conference. A huge panda,l designed to accommodate two lakh people was erected alongside the ring road near Viraganur on the outskirts of the city. Interior of the pandal was designed by Tamil Art Director Gopikanth.

Unlike other political parties, which normally decorate the entire city with party flags, giant cutouts, banners, blaring speakers in every nook and corner disrupting normal life for conducting political conferences, the AISMK's arrangements seemed to be 'low-key affair'. Only few cutouts and banners were seen at the important junctions inviting the public for the conference.

Talking to the sources at the conference venue, Karu Nagarajan said the party would adopt more than 20 resolutions. Party Supremo Sarath Kumar would hoist the party flag at 1105 hrs and would be followed by the lightning of Kuthuvilakku by Radhika Sarath Kumar, marking the formal beginning of the conference, he added.

Cultural programmes reflecting Tamil culture and music concert were also arranged to entertain the participants. Sarath Kumar would deliver his first major political address, which would announce party's future plans, he added.

UNI