Agencies, Chennai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived here from New Delhi by a special aircraft, paid his homage to the mortal remains of his ‘good friend’, AIADMK Supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who died here last night after suffering a massive heart attack on Sunday evening.
Mr Modi placed a wreath on the body of Ms Jayalalithaa, which lay in state at Rajaji Hall in the heart of the city, and paid his last respects to the departed leader. He also went close to the body of Ms Jayalalithaa and offered his respects with folded hands.
Mr Modi also offered his condolences to the newly elected Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala. Both Mr Panneerselvam and Ms Sasikala broke down and Mr Modi offered some words of solace and consoled him. He also put his arms around the shoulders of Panneerselvam and consoled him.
After offering his condolences to the large number of people with folded hands, Mr Modi, before boarding his car again offered his condolences to Mr Panneerselvam. On his arrival at the airport, Mr Modi, accompanied by Governor Ch Vidayasagar Rao, came to INS Adyar by a helicopter from where he came to the Rajaji Hall by road.
He was joined by Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Pon Radhakrishnan, senior leader L Ganesan and BJP State President Ms Tamizhisai Soundararajan, in paying tributes to Ms Jayalalithaa, with whom he shared a special rapport. Later, Mr Naidu said Mr Modi promised Mr Panneerselvam, who was sworn in as the new Chief Minister to succeed Ms Jayalalithaa, all support to the Tamil Nadu government.