Madurai: Tamil Nadu legislative assembly pro-tem speaker M V Karuppiah was seen floating in an agricultural well for 30 minutes on Monday while holding the TVK flag, claiming it was to fulfil a religious vow he had made if C Joseph Vijay became chief minister.
Ritual Float for Vijay
The TVK MLA from Sholavandan in Madurai district said he had made a vow at the Janakai Mariamman temple to perform a 'jala pradakshinam', or ritual float. This is not the first time Karuppiah has performed such a ritual.
Previous Ritual for Jayalalithaa
A decade ago, when he was an AIADMK MLA from Sholavandan, he undertook a similar jala pradakshinam at the Madurai corporation swimming pool for around 48 minutes to mark former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's 68th birthday. The ritual was performed in the presence of party cadres holding posters bearing her image in the water, while Karuppiah wore a T-shirt with her face printed on it. Karuppiah claimed he had performed the ritual every year on her birthday since 1997.
This latest act underscores Karuppiah's unique style of political devotion, blending religious rituals with political allegiance. The event drew attention from locals and party workers, who gathered to witness the spectacle.
