THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala paid homage to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who passed away in Chennai on Monday, and declared a three-day mourning from Tuesday. Governor P. Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accompanied by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy, paid floral tributes to her at Rajaji Hall on Tuesday. The four had left by the 11 a.m. flight to Chennai.
However, they could not land in Chennai since the airport was closed for the arrival of President Pranab Mukherjee's aircraft. As the President's flight was delayed, the aircraft was diverted to Coimbatore. After a brief wait at the Coimbatore airport, the Kerala delegation left for Chennai in the afternoon. On reaching Rajaji Hall at 4 p.m., Mr Sathasivam paid floral tributes to the departed leader followed by Mr Pinarayi Viayan, Mr Ramesh Chennithala and Mr Chandy.
They expressed their condolences to Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam and other AIADMK leaders. Earlier, before leaving for Chennai, Mr Vijayan presided over a special cabinet meeting which began with a silent homage to the departed soul. The cabinet passed a condolence resolution and decided on a three-day mourning. During the period, the government functions will be kept simple. All programmes will begin by paying condolences to Jaya.
