Jaya buried next to MGR memorial in State funeral

Chennai: The body of the enigmatic and mercurial leader of the AIADMK, Jayalalithaa Jayaram, was laid to rest on the Marina, appropriately next to her mentor MGR,on Decembert 6 evening, watched by celebrities ranging from President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Modi, Union ministers and several chief ministers.

The last rites were performed by her close aide Sasikala Natarajan, indicating that she would call the shots in the party and in the government, functioning as the de factor leader.

Congress VP Rahul Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh and AICC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, made an extra effort to pay their respects to Jaya both at Rajaji Hall where the body was kept for public homage throughout the day, and later at the funeral.

BJP leaders including Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Pon Radhakrishnan also tried to make an impression on AIADMK leaders by spending the entire day with the body till the funeral.

Contrary to Vaishnavite traditions of Jayalalithaa’s parents, she was buried, apparently according to her wish so that she could be placed next to her political guru and co-star MGR.

Earlier, thousands and thousands of AIADMK workers filed past her body at the Rajaji Hall to pay their last respects to their Amma.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Orissa CM Navin Patnaik of the BJD, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah (Congress), Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, led the list of CMs who paid homage to Jaya.

Tamil Nadu leaders ranging from M K Stalin and Kanimozhi (DMK), MDMK leader Vaiko, DMDK leader Vijayakanth, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, G K Vasan (TMC), Thirumavalavan (VCK) and Dr Krishnasamy (PT), also paid their last respects at the Rajaji Hall.

Later, with a 60-gun salute, the body of Jaya was laid to rest in a State funeral with full military honours.