The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (All India Anna Dravidian Progressive Party) started a crucial meeting of its top leadership at 6:30 PM today, minutes after the party hurriedly re-hoisted the flag on its headquarters.
All the party’s MLA’s are attending the meeting.
The decision to lower its flag at around 5:30 pm today had led to speculation on Tamil TV channels that Chief Minister J Jayalalitha had died.
This led to scenes of emotional outbursts, and incidents of violence including stoning of buses and shops.
In many areas of Tamil Nadu, shops closed early today.
The meeting of the AIADMK top brass is expected to be centered around figuring out a way ahead for the party, which has been totally dependent on Jayalalitha for leadership and direction since MG Ramachandran, the charismatic film-actor turned politician, died 1987.
Most of the Tamil TV channels are now showing only scrolls and text as they await a clarification on Jayalalitha’s health.
After announcing that the Chief Minister was dead, the local TV channels had to correct themselves after Apollo Hospitals immediately issued a statement that she was still on life support.
