Chennai Corporation Deputy Mayor 'Karate' R Thyagarajan, who had gone 'missing' after he fell out with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, returned home Thursday after a gap of nearly seven months.

• Be a Citizen Election Reporter

The expelled AIADMK leader, who had gone 'underground' fearing foisting of cases and arrest by the ruling AIADMK, was given a rousing reception by his supporters at the airport in Chennai when he arrived from Delhi Thursday afternoon.

Talking to mediapersons, Thyagarajan, levelling a series of corruption charges against Jayalalithaa, said he would undertake state-wide electioneering in support of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Democratic Progressive Alliance for the May 8 Assembly elections.

• Rediff Assembly Elections Blog

The deputy mayor said he had been staying away all these days as the AIADMK government was bent upon foisting cases against him and putting him behind bars because of political enmity. There had been danger to his life also, he alleged.

When his wife filed a case in Madras high court, the advocate general, appearing for the government, told the court that there were no cases against him.

• Complete Coverage

But there was a hidden design to arrest him when he arrived in Chennai, he charged.

Now that the notification was issued for elections and the Election Commission had taken control of the situation, he thought it would be safe to return, he said.

• Tamil Nadu Coverage

On his future plans, Thyagarajan said he would come back to his parent party, the Congress, in a couple of days and would call on Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M Krishnasamy Thursday evening.

Much to the surprise of many, Thyagarajan drove down to his Adyar residence in official car with a siren and government emblem.