CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, former deputy chief minister M K Stalin and DMDK founder Vijaykanth were among the 229 members from various political parties who took oath as members of the 14th Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday. The mood was sombre with the death of Environment Minister Mariam Pichai earlier in the day.
A visibly upset CM took oath in the name of God at 12.38 pm in the presence of Pro-tem Speaker C K Thamizharasan and left at 12.45 pm to Tiruchy to pay homage to Mariam Pichai.
DMK president M Karunanidhi and former minister Durai Murugan did not take oath on Monday as both were in New Delhi. Apart from them, Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare N R Sivapathi and Tiruchy East MLA R Manoharan could not take oath on Monday. Pro-tem Speaker Thamizharasan said those who could not take oath on Monday could take it on May 27. The swearing-in ceremony lasted for around three-and-a-half hours.
Homage to Mariam Pichai: The 14th Assembly in its first session on Monday paid homage to Mariam Pichai. The Pro-tem Speaker moved a resolution condoling the death of Pichai and all members observed silence as a mark of respect for the late minister.