Uncharacteristic lack of fanfare for CM’s visit

While the visit of a Chief Minister to a district would usually prompt the party cadre to decorate the streets with flags and banners, the visit of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to Salem, Coimbatore and

While the visit of a Chief Minister to a district would usually prompt the party cadre to decorate the streets with flags and banners, the visit of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to Salem, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts on Thursday was marked by an uncharacteristic lack of fanfare following his instructions to not organise receptions amid the second COVID-19 wave. On Wednesday, Mr. Stalin requested DMK members to not attempt to meet him during his visits and to abstain from putting up party flags and banners at any of the locations, to prevent overcrowding and avoid the spread of COVID-19. The Chief Minister spent less than two hours in Salem district, during which he stopped to meet the public near the Salem Steel Plant to receive petitions and even made an impromptu visit to a primary health centre in Magudanchavadi. However, there were no meetings with party functionaries or any decorations along the route.