Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday thanked DMK treasurer MK Stalin for attending the swearing-in ceremony in which the Council of Ministers were administered oath of office and Secrecy.
In her 'thank you note' the AIADMK also clarified that there was no intention of AIADMK to insult him by making him sit in a block of seats meant for MLAs.
"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," Jayalalithaa was quoted as saying.
"Had the officers brought to my notice that 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," the Chief Minister added further.
On Monday, Stalin and newly elected party MLAs attended the swearing-in ceremony of Jayalalithaa and her Cabinet ministers held at centenary hall of the Madras University. Stalin was made to sit in the middle row along with other MLAs.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Monday issued a statement accusing the Jayalalithaa-led government of ill-treating Stalin and even went to the extent of stating that 'Jayalalithaa had not changed and would never change'.
