Chennai, April 18 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha has given a call to her party to “light up Tamil Nadu” and bring an end to “the dark age of the DMK rule”. In a press release, she asked AIADMK cadres and supporters across the state to light deepams (oil lamps), exactly at 6.30 p.m. April 19 in a novel protest.

The call was especially directed to members of the newly instituted AIADMK youth wing across the 30 districts.

It will be full moon April 19, the auspicious time of Chitra Pournami, according to the Hindu calendar. Tamils light lamps to eliminate darkness and welcome enlightenment on the first full moon night of the Tamil new year that began earlier this week.

“Amma, come and light up Tamil Nadu, which is engulfed in darkness” should be the war cry of the AIADMK, lighting up the state, Jayalalitha’s statement said.

“Tamil Nadu (people) are afraid and deeply worried. Power shortage, price hike, deteriorating law and order are some of the reasons,” the AIADMK chief said.

“The state machinery has come to a halt because of the inefficiency of the DMK-led government,” the statement said.

“People of Tamil Nadu are longing to see the stalemate (in governance) end”.

“We should tell the people that AIADMK is there to light up their lives,” said Jayalalitha.