As MK Stalin progresses ahead to swear in as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, all eyes in the state are on the Amma Canteens (Amma Unavagam) not only for the shocking vandalization meted out to one of the outlets in Chennai but also on the bright possibility that the DMK government will change its name from Amma Canteens to Anna Canteens. 

According to reports close to the developments, a policy decision is likely to be taken soon by the DMK government to change the name to 'Anna Canteen'. The visuals in Chennai that the names of the Amma Canteens were covered by white tape despite the election code of conduct vacated the place hold evidence that rechristening the name is possible. 

The DMK is considering changing the name after the DMK founder CN Annadurai. DMK Spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP TKS Elangovan had also confirmed that the party is planning to change the name. He said, "We have promised an improvised form of canteens in the manifesto. It can have only one name." He added that the name would be CN Annadurai. The name change would possibly create outrage among the ADMK members over changing the name of their leader Amma (Jayalalithaa) who established the canteen system for the welfare of the low-income and downtrodden people. 

DMK's drive to change the name of Amma Canteens would come parallel to the party's announcement of establishing Kalaignar canteens, which like Amma Canteens would provide food at subsidized cost to poor and marginalized people. While speaking to IANS, DMK General Secretary Duraimurugan said, "The DMK has promised to open canteens to provide quality food at low rates across the state and we will be implementing that as a first measure immediately after the government assumes office." 

The DMK government is also planning to install free drinking water kiosks across Chennai and in all the metro cities. The reports say that this drive of providing free drinking water will be totally supported by the concerned municipal corporations who in turn can raise funds through the CSR platforms. The development of the possibility of changing the name has come to light a day after the DMK members had vandalized a canteen in Chennai. 

The vandalization had shocked the DMK party and the two miscreants with the DMK scarf were seen damaging the board and hoardings at an Amma Canteen in JJ Nagar, Chennai. They were seen kicking Jayalalithaa's picture, tearing the posters, and dumping them outside the building. The incident had sparked tensions between the DMK and ADMK members and when the visuals of the vandalization were doing rounds on social media, the DMK leadership had swung into action. 

The DMK leadership had immediately expelled the members from the party and Stalin has also ordered the local DMK leaders to fix and damages and hoard the board again in the Amma Canteen. DMK's leader MA Subramanian, who is the newly elected MLA of Saidapet and former Chennai Mayor, had taken to Twitter and wrote, "Respectable party president (MK Stalin) has ordered to initiate action on two party members and to put back the board at the same place. He ordered to expel the two DMK members immediately from the party." Subramanian has also released the video in which the members can be seen pasting the broken board on the premises. The MLA had asserted that the party will take immediate action against those who commit any wrong. 

Amma Canteens were established by Jayalalithaa when she was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2013. The state government-owned eatery has over 400 outlets in Chennai alone and these eateries in the city are funded by the Greater Chennai Corporation. The Amma Canteens are the saviour for millions of people across the state who are starving in hunger. The eatery will offer Idly at Re 1, a plate of Chapati and dal at Rs 3, and a plate of rice and dal at Rs 3. The outlets had always served the people with the unalerted cost during the disastrous times from floods to the pandemic.