Overnight the statue disappeared from its pedestal. There were rumours that the statue had gone ‘missing’, and Karunanidhi even alleged that it had been converted into ‘a stepping stone’ at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden bungalow. The AIADMK government, headed by ‘temporary’ Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, claimed that the statue had been removed as its pedestal was damaged after a lorry rammed into it.

The government maintained that the statue at a traffic signal could cause accidents. But its removal triggered massive protests across the state and the government hurriedly announced an altern ative site for its re-installation, disclosing that the statue was at the city’s museum. ‘Kannagi’ continued torecline and gather dust in a museum god own all through Jayalalithaa’s rule.

One of the promises Karunanidhi made in the just concluded election was to restore the statue to its original spot. Even on the day election results were announced, he told the media that among the first things he would do was to put ‘Kannagi’ back in her old place.

jaya.menon@expressindia.com