Chennai, Feb 24 (UNI) Floral tributes were paid to former

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and charismatic AIADMK leader

J.Jayalalithaa on the occasion of her 75th birth anniversary

here today.

On behalf of the State Government, officials from the Tamil

Language and Information Department garlanded her statue

and paid floral tributes to her decorated portrait at the State

Centre of Higher Education on the Kamarajar Salai.

Meanwhile, jubilant cadres of the main Opposition AIADMK

celebrated her birth anniversary by organising various welfare

measures across the State.

The day was even more sweet for the AIADMK cadres as it

marked Edappadi K Palaniswami's affirmation as the Interim

General Secretary and undisputed unitary leader of the party

after the Supreme Court yesterday validated the decisions

taken at the July 11, 2022 General Council in which disgruntled

Coordinator O.Panneerselvam was expelled from the party and

stripped him of all party posts as he opposed the single leadership

in the party.

At the AIADMK Party office in the city, Palaniswami along with

MPs, MLAs, former Ministers garlanded Ms Jayalallithaa's

statue and paid floral tributes to her portrait.

He also cut a giant 75 kg cake to mark the occasion and released

a souvenir.

He also launched 'Annadhanam' (free meals), blood donation camp

and various other welfare measures to mark her birth anniversary.

Scores of party cadres have gathered at the party office and celebrated

the occasion.

Earlier, Mr Palaniswami paid floral tributes to her portrait at his residence.

Elsewhere in the Stae, jubilant AIADMK cadres celebrated the occasion

by garlanding her statue and organising various events.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters at the party office, senior AIADMK leader

and former Minister D.Jayakumar reiterated that there was no question

of readmitting deposed leader Mr Panneerselvam into the party.

Stating that Mr Panneerselvam had lost his identity the moment the

Apex court validated Mr Palaniswami as the Interim General Secretary

of the party.

"How can we readmit Mr Panneerselvam who had been acting as the

B-Team of the ruling DMK', he asked and said Mr Palaniswami was the

sole leader of the AIADMK.