CHENNAI: Leaders of various parties in the Assembly paid rich tributes to late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and recalled their association with her while hailing her courage in her public life.
Members observed silence for two minutes and Speaker P Dhanapal adjourned the House without transacting any business as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.
The House also condoled the death of former Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, Thuglak editor Cho S Ramaswamy, former Minister Ko.Si. Mani, former members of the House - K Paramalai, A Baluchamy, K Kannaiyan, R Navaneethakrishna Pandian and AC Narasimhan.
Moving a resolution to condole the death of Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam recalled the eventful political career of the late leader right from propaganda secretary of the AIADMK to the chief minister of the State for six times. He also recalled Jayalalithaa’s welfare schemes which were emulated by other States.
The Speaker recalled that Jayalalithaa had given him the opportunity to serve as Speaker of the House and hailed her for announcing various welfare schemes under Rule 110.
The leader of Opposition, MK Stalin said he and Jayalalithaa had entered the Assembly in the same year - 1989. Though we had differed with her politically on many occasions, one aspect of her which is unique was her courage – she never feared anything but faced the problems as they came. He recalled when Jayalalithaa came to know that he was given a seat in the 11th row during her swearing-in ceremony in 2016, she expressed regret and made clear her wish to work together for the welfare of the State.
Congress floor leader KR Ramaswamy reminisced his meeting with Jayalalithaa on the last day of the Assembly session in September last. “When I was about to ask her about her health, she asked me whether I have my health check-ups regularly,” he said and added that no one could stop her political ascendancy and she remained the iron lady of the State till her last.
Abdul Mohammed Abubacker (IUML), Thameemun Ansari (JMMK), U Thaniyarasu (Kongu Ilaingar Peravai), actor Karunas (Mukkulathor Pulippadai) and Nancy Ann Cynthia Francis also condoled Jayalalithaa’s death.