Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday inaugurated the memorial for her political mentor, founder of the AIADMK and former CM, MG Ramachandran, on Marina Beach, renovated at an expenditure of Rs 7.70 crore. Accompanied by her party functionaries and office bearers, Jayalalithaa paid floral tributes at the samadhi of the late leader and went around the entire area for 25 minutes.
On the occasion, a large number of AIADMK cadre and general public gathered at the memorial. Since it was a Sunday, in the evening, thousands of people who visited Marina paid a visit to the glittering MGR memorial.
The memorial is situated on an area of 8.25 acres of land. Its facade has been given a new look and the Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek Mythology, painted in golden colour, is the cynosure of all eyes. The open space of the memorial is filled with Korean grass, pulmeria alba, date palm, spider lily, etc. The pavement in the middle of the memorial has been redesigned with granite.
Ministers and AIADMK functionaries, including presidium chairman E Madhusoodhanan, and senior officials of the State government took part in the inaugural function.