AIADMK counters HC order, releases balloons with pictures of its leaders

The Madras High Court might have banned cut outs and banners of living persons in public places. But AIADMK cadres in Tamil Nadu were clever enough to counter its direction by releasing huge balloons in the air with photographs of their leaders during a public meeting.

In one such incident, Coimbatore AIADMK party functionaries on Wednesday raised balloons with photographs of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani and MLAs.

As Palaniswami arrived in the textile city to inaugurate a flyover constructed at a cost of Rs 195 crore, the workers were in confusion whether to place banners and erect cutouts following the court order.

To counter the order, legislator Amman K Arjun, elected from Coimbatore south constituency, decided to release balloons, which has the picture of Palaniswami, Panneerselvam, and Velumani.

Besides Arjun portrait, the pictures of Coimbatore North MLA P R G Arunkumar also got a place on the balloon.

In a blanket order, the Madras High Court on October 24 banned depiction of pictures of living persons on banners and hoardings, even if prior permission was obtained for erecting them, and the pictures of those sponsoring them in it.