Chennai: In a departure from the norm, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will unfurl the tricolour at the Republic Day in Chennai on Thursday as Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will be taking the salute in Mumbai.
Raj Bhavan sources said that Rao, Governor of Maharashtra and who was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu in 2016, will be in Mumbai for the Republic Day celebrations.
Panneerselvam "will take the salute", said an invitation issued by the state government, highlighting that the Chief Minister would lead the proceedings by unfurling the tricolour in Chennai.
Rao was sworn-in as Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu on September 2, 2016, after the tenure of his predecessor K Rosaiah ended on August 30, 2016.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up all across the city, especially in and around Marina, the venue of Thursday's Republic day celebrations.
Marina had been the epicentre of the pro-jallikattu protests, where tens of thousands had converged for nearly a week and were forcibly dispersed on Monday.
The entire area has been spruced up, with municipal authorities going on a hectic cleaning spree.
Police are being deployed in sensitive areas as a preventive measure.
