R Manoharan, the MLA from Tiruchy (East), hands over ration cards and pension papers at Srirangam

Srirangam, Nov. 30: A loyalist is keeping her chief minister’s chair warm. Back in Srirangam, Jayalalithaa’s former constituency, a team of MLAs, party functionaries and government officials have ensured that the seat retains its exalted status.

Famed for India’s largest temple complex, the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam was recently declared vacant following Jayalalithaa’s disqualification after being convicted and sentenced to four years in a wealth case. The Election Commission has said it would announce the by-election date in January.

While the AIADMK has to field a new candidate, it has launched a well-coordinated move to keep up the seat’s high profile.

Led by R. Manoharan, MLA from the adjoining Tiruchy (East) constituency, various government programmes, infrastructure projects and welfare schemes are being implemented with the same urgency and diligence as though Jayalalithaa continued to be chief minister.

On Friday, Manoharan distributed ration cards and old-age pension as part of a government scheme at Manikandam village, part of an otherwise urban constituency.

Manoharan, also the government whip, made sure that the constituents were left in no doubt who their benefactor was.

“Amma has instructed that the good work she had started at Srirangam must not be interrupted just because she is not its official MLA now,” he said at the event.

“Srirangam will always remain close to her heart. We are sure that all of you will reciprocate when the time comes.”

G. Thirupathy, the ruling party’s constituency secretary, confirmed that all this was being done with a possible return by Jayalalithaa, now out on bail, in mind. However, if her conviction is not overturned or at least stayed, she cannot contest elections for 10 years.

“Our only mission is to bring back Amma as chief minister and MLA from Srirangam. Since she rolled out projects totalling Rs 190 crore here during her last three visits, we are ensuring that they are completed in time,” Thirupathy said.

“When she comes back as candidate, the public must not complain that their needs had been ignored and Amma’s promises not been kept.”

The constituents are not complaining. “All the infrastructure projects, such as bridges and roads, are going on at the same hectic speed,” S. Raghavan, a chartered accountant, said.

“We still feel as though we live in the chief minister’s constituency. When the election (by-election) comes, the AIADMK will have an easy ride.”

Local officials from political rival DMK admit that even a joint Opposition candidate would find it difficult to breach the AIADMK’s stranglehold on the constituency in spite of Jayalalithaa being unseated.

“The AIADMK and government officials are all out to ensure that Srirangam remains the most important and looked after constituency in the state. The Opposition has no chance here,” said D. Ravi, a tea-stall owner.