A day after Jayalalithaa assumed office for the sixth time as the CM of Tamil Nadu, she issued a statement regarding the seating arrangement of opposition leader MK Stalin.
This comes after DMK president M Karunanidhi on Monday alleged that his party was 'insulted' at the swearing-in ceremony of J Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, complaining about the seating arrangement made for his son M K Stalin.
You can read the full release here:
I am happy to note that Thiru M.K.Stalin, MLA attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Council of Ministers on 23rd May, 2016. I thank him for attending the event. I understand that Thiru M.K.Stalin was seated in the block of seats intended for Members of the Legislative Assembly.
I am informed that the Public Department had followed the Protocol Manual in allocating seats in the hall for the event. If this seating plan caused him any discomfiture, I would like to assure him that there was no intent to show disrespect to him or his party. Had the officers brought to my notice that Thiru M.K.Stalin would be attending the event, I would have instructed the officers in charge of the arrangements to provide him a seat in the first row, relaxing the norms in the Protocol
Manual.
I convey my good wishes to him and look forward to working with his Party for the betterment of the State.