Tamilnadu state committee of CPI(M) had, it its meeting at Madurai from 26-28 March, decided to organise picketing of central government offices in the state in protest against the increase in prices of Kerosene, cooking gas, foodgrains and urea and against privatisation of Salem Steel Plant and other public sector establishments.

Thousands of meetings and other campaigns were conducted all over the state during the last one week. Thousands of handbills were distributed and posters were brought out.

Nearly 5000 volunteers including 1000 women led N. Sankarayya, state secretary were arrested when they marched towards the Southern Railway head quarters in the city. K. Krishnan, T. Nandagopal, district secretariats of North and South Chennai, Sarala, district secretariat member North Chennai and other district leaders led the groups of volunteers.

T.K. Rangarajan, central committee member led the volunteers in Salem and N. Varadarajan, another central committee member, courted arrest in Dindigul. In Madurai city nearly 5000 volunteers including 1000 women courted arrest, led by P. Mohan MP.

Reports from various districts show that more than 50,000 courted arrest in 151 centres in the state. These volunteers were led by state committee members and district leaders of the party.