Madras University Centenary Auditorium decked up for swearing-in ceremony

Chennai: With the AIADMK supremo J.Jayalalithaa all set to sworn in as chief minister for the sixth time, the Madras University Centenary Auditorium is all decked up for the swearing-in ceremony to be held on Monday morning.

Ms Jayalalithaa will be sworn-in for a second consecutive tenure along with 28 ministers. The stately auditorium has a special significance for the AIADMK supremo as she was first sworn-in as CM here on June 24, 1991. In 2011 too, she took the oath of office at the same premises while in 2001, the swearing-in ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan.

The interiors and exteriors of the auditorium have been spruced up and decorated for the event to be attended by several VIPs, including union ministers, MPs and leaders of various political parties. The building has been illuminated with glittering ornamental lights since Saturday evening.

In addition to the auditorium premises, the chambers of the Chief Minister and her Cabinet colleagues in the centuries-old Fort St George have also been spruced up with a new coat of paint giving them a fresh look. Also, the arterial roads leading to the Secretariat here including Kamarajar Salai and Napier Bridge point, have all been given a face lift.

When sworn-in on Monday, 68-year-old Jayalalithaa will be starting her fourth term in office. Her first term was between 1991-96, second 2001-06 and third 2011-16. Steps have been taken to telecast live the swearing-in through giant LED screens mounted on vans of the Information and Public Relations Department in the districts except Thanjavur and Karur where polls in Thanjavur and Aravkurichi are scheduled to be held next month after being deferred. The vans will be stationed at places where people congregate in large numbers.