After a gap of several months, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa returned to the Tamil Nadu Assembly as Chief Minister on Monday.
She entered the House to a standing ovation from the Members of the AIADMK, who welcomed her with a huge applause and thumping of the desks.
Delivering an address, Speaker P. Dhanapal heaped praise on the Chief Minister, invoking mythological comparisons from the Mahabharata.
He said while conspiracy had surrounded Ms. Jayalalithaa like a “Chakara Vyuham”, she was no Abhimanyu to be caught in the plot. Rather, she was the embodiment of Maha Vishnu, who holds the Chakara in the hand and destroys conspiracies.
Mr. Dhanapal said the victory that Ms. Jayalalithaa achieved in the R.K. Nagar by-election was unprecedented in the history of Tamil Nadu.
Later, the Assembly adopted condolence resolutions for the passing away of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former Minister P. Chendur Pandian and legendary music director M.S. Viswananthan.
Reading out the resolution, Mr. Dhanapal said Mr. Kalam hailed from an ordinary family in Rameswaram and reached great heights through sheer hard work. He became a President praised by all sections of the society. Even when he was serving as President, his thoughts were preoccupied with the welfare of students.
On Mr. Viswanathan, the Speaker said the music director was a great chapter in the history of Tamil cinema. The House was later adjourned for the day as mark of respect for the departed.