Putting an end to speculation about her meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa welcomed him at the Chennai airport and presented a bouquet. Governor K. Rosaiah was also at hand to welcome the Prime Minister. Several Cabinet colleagues of the chief minister were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day, an official press release said the chief minister will also call on the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan and present a memorandum to him on the various important issues confronting the state.
The chief minister had shot off several strong letters to the Prime Minister’s office on various issues, including Mullaperiyar, Koodankulam and the food security bill. The silence of the PMO to most of the letters would not have gone down well with the chief minister but she chose not to let go the opportunity to raise the issues in person with him.
Sources say Ms Jayalalithaa arrived at the airport around 6.23 pm, almost 15 minutes ahead of the Prime Minister’s flight which landed at 6.45 pm and was seen chatting with the Governor. Sources say the chief minister looked cheerful all through.
Besides the AIADMK leaders, Congress and DMK leaders had also gathered at Chennai airport to welcome the Prime Minister. Union ministers M.K. Alagiri and T.R. Baalu, former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran and DMK MP T.K.S. Elangovan were among those who had assembled at the airport. Sources say that while the Congress leaders greeted Ms Jayalalithaa on her arrival, the DMK leaders did not do so.
The CM later had a 35-minute meeting with the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan.