Jayalalithaa to pay floral tributes to statues on May 22

Partymen think she has been keeping her plans secret, afraid that Opposition might try to scuttle her return as Chief Minister.

There is still no clue as to when Ms. Jayalalithaa will be sworn-in as Chief Minister. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Emerging out of her self-imposed exile, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa will be seen in public for the first time on May 22 after her acquittal in the disproportionate assets case a week earlier. 

According to a party release, Ms. Jayalalithaa will be paying floral tributes to the statues of former chief ministers - MGR's statue at the Spencer’s junction, Annadurai's at the Wallajah junction and social reformer Periyar's statue near Gemini flyover around 2 p.m.

There is still no clue as to whether Ms. Jayalalithaa will be sworn-in as Chief Minister before these events as the AIADMK legislature party meets the same Friday at 7 a.m itself. 

The statement still referred to her as “peoples’ chief minister” and she continues to play the ‘guessing game' unwilling to disclose her plans. 

Partymen think she has been keeping her plans secret, afraid that Opposition might try to scuttle her return as Chief Minister by going for an appeal in the Supreme Court. 

The R.K Nagar MLA in the city, P. Vetrivel, has already vacated the seat enabling her to contest once she assumes office. Her health condition could have forced her to contest from Chennai as she need not take up long journeys on campaign. 

Area-wise, R.K. Nagar is one of the smallest constituencies, and has a sizeable number of slum population that has been nurtured for long by the party, sources said.