Chennai: A new statue of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has been brought from Andhra Pradesh to replace the one at AIADMK state headquarters that had attracted criticism as it did not seem to resemble her. In a State well-known for its statue politics, this is one story on statuary with a happy ending.
The new bronze statue brought to the party headquarters at Royapettah on Tuesday, is eight feet tall and weighs about 800 kg. This will take the place of the statue that had been done soon after her death but did not satisfy the party members as Jayalalithaa's facial features had not been captured well by the sculptor.
The Jaya cult still seemed intact as the AIADMK members who had gathered at the party HQ on the occasion of receiving the new statue raised slogans hailing their 'Amma.'
A life-size statue of former AIADMK supremo had been unveiled in front of the party headquarters on February 24 to commemorate her 70th birth anniversary. The statue was erected next to that of the AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran, following instructions from Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
No sooner it was installed than a controversy erupted that the Jaya statue unveiled bore no resemblance to the party supremo. A stung sculptor agreed to replace it free of cost. He might not have had a choice as there were unkind comments on the social media too that the statue appeared to resemble the jailed leader Sasikala more than the former CM Jaya.
In the face of severe criticism, State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar had promised that changes would be made to the statue after consulting party seniors. Senior Minister Kadambur Raju had then come to the rescue of the sculptor saying he would be commissioned to make the changes rather than bring in a new sculptor.
