Tamil Nadu CM vs. Governor: When eggs, stones were hurled at Channa Reddy’s convoy and Jayalalithaa sought his recall in 1995

Around 3 pm on April 10, 1995, Tamil Nadu Governor M. Channa Reddy had left the Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan) for Pondicherry (now, Puducherry). When his convoy reached Tindivanam, a group of ruling AIADMK men hurled eggs and stones at it. The men were led by S.S. Panneerselvam, the party secretary for Villupuram Ramasamy Padayachiar district unit (present day Villupuram). They were angry that Reddy was entertaining the then Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, who had sought to prosecute Chief Minister Jayalalithaa (then spelt Jayalalitha) on corruption charges.

The Governor’s convoy was held up at Tindivanam-Pondicherry junction for over 15 minutes. Reddy called the District Superintendent of Police (SP), Vijayakumar, who was at the spot, and directed him to clear the road. The Hindu Cuddalore Correspondent reported that Mr Vijayakumar said the demonstrators threw stones and eggs, “which, however, missed the vehicles in the Governor’s convoy.”