Will O Panneerselvam replace J Jayalalithaa in portraits?

Economic Times: Trichy: Sunday, 05 October 2014.

Panneerselvam may have stepped into J Jayalalithaa's shoes after her conviction in the disproportionate assets case, but will he replace her in the portraits of the chief minister hung at government offices? That's the big question bothering officials in the state.

It has been five days since Jayalalithaa was deposed as chief minister and sent to jail, but government offices, including district collectorates, are yet to remove her portraits. Officials said they were awaiting orders from the government to replace her portrait with that of Panneerselvam. An official said on condition of anonymity that though Panneerselvam is the new chief minister, for the ruling party Jayalalithaa still remained at the helm of affairs of the state. With the violence and protests that followed the special court's verdict showing party cadres' affection and loyalty towards Jayalalithaa, there may be hesitation on the government's part to order removal of her portraits, he said. Sources said the state government will not remove Jayalalithaa's portraits without her approval.

Reply to an RTI application filed by TOI revealed that it's not mandatory to display the portrait of the chief minster in government offices. The list of people whose portraits can be displayed include, besides the incumbent President, Prime Minister and chief minister, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, poet saint Thiruvalluvar, social reformer Thanthai Periyar, freedom fighters C Rajagopalachari, U Muthuramalingam Thevar, V O Chidambaram and Quaid-e-Millath, and all former chief ministers.

A government order dated 1989 said portraits of the current chief minister and former chief ministers could be kept in government offices without spending money from the exchequer.An officer said the new chief minister's portrait was yet to reach them, and once it arrived, it would be distributed to all government offices at Rs. 20 per copy.

Meanwhile, AIADMK cadres protested in Manapparai municipality office after Jayalalithaa's portrait kept in the council hall reportedly went missing.

Rs 3 crore spent on foster son wedding

Holding that it was Jayalalithaa who had paid for the lavish marriage of her now estranged foster son V N Sudhakaran, the special court pegged the expenses incurred by her at Rs 3 crore. "A huge amount was spent on the printing of invitation, publication of thanks in the dailies, and valuable presents," the judge said.