Reporter’s diary: Propitiating Amma still in their blood

Even six months after her demise, ministers still seem to be committed in showing their respect to the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Their devotion is anything but subtle and it is most obvious in the government press meets as many ministers ensure that her presence is still felt during important announcements.

This trend was seen at a recent event that was scheduled at 5 pm and was already delayed as the minister was held up. After an hour of waiting, the journalists were eagerly looking at whoever walked through the door hoping it was the minister’s entourage that would walk in and commence the meet. However, after several minutes, a man walked in with a photo of late CM Jayalalithaa in his hand and placed it strategically right at the centre of the dais.

While all the other guests in the room smiled to that as it was ‘still’ her government after all, the scribes waiting for the minister could not put down their restlessness. One was heard saying that while the minister could come late as he was probably held up somewhere, at least the CM’s photo could be brought in time as a solace for the waiting reporters.

Either way, the CM’s portrait remained there while the conference went on for another thirty minutes. It is also interesting to see that there was someone assigned to take her photo carefully after the event got over, only to be brought back for another such government-sponsored event.