Intervening to correct a faltering minister or making a promise to a member of the House, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has proved to be an avid observer and participant of the Assembly proceedings.
She has a good idea about all the departments and schemes and can be seen furnishing correct details to ministers when they are addressing the House or replying to questions.
On Tuesday, she offered a different kind of help to Health Minister V.S. Vijay, who was replying to the demand for grants for his department. He wanted to quote an MGR film song to explain the situation in which he found himself.
He said that the previous DMK government had inaugurated medical colleges without creating proper infrastructure and faculties and now it was left to the new regime to deal with the situation. But, he was not able to recollect the song.
Ms. Jayalalithaa stood up to say the song was from the film Periya Idathu Pen and recited first two lines, “ Avanukkenna Thoongi Vittan Akappattavan Naan Allava, ” amid thumping of desks by the entire House.
Mr. Vijay picked up the line and said, “ Avarukkenna[Karunanidhi]Arivithu Vittar Akappattavan Naan Allava .”