Chennai: This is the third time that the 58-year-old Madras University’s centenary auditorium hosts the swearing in ceremony of Ms J. Jayalalithaa. It was in 2011 that Ms Jayalalithaa assumed charge as Chief Minister at a swearing ceremony held at the same auditorium.
Ms Jayalalithaa has a strong connection with the venue as she was conferred the Doctor of Literature degree (honoris causa) by the University of Madras at the same hall in 1991, followed by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University which conferred a honorary doctorate on the AIADMK supremo at the same venue in 1992.
Madras University vice-chancellor Prof R.Thandavan said that their auditorium accommodates 4,800 people at any given point of time, which makes it the largest auditorium in the city. “Any Prime Minister or President - you name them, they would have attended a meeting at this prestigious auditorium which was inaugurated by President Radhakrishnan in 1957,” he added.
