Humiliated By Jayalalithaa, Says Stalin's Party Over Today's Seating Plan

Chennai: As J Jayalalithaa took oath for the sixth time today as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, the main opposition party, the DMK, broke with tradition to attend the ceremony - and soon regretted it.

M Karunanidhi, the 93-year-old chief of the DMK, said that Jayalalithaa, 68, "deliberately humiliated" his son, MK Stalin, by having him seated in a row towards the end.

Mr Stalin, 63, is the Treasurer of the DMK.

" Jayalalithaa has not changed, she will never change," alleged Mr Karunanidhi in a statement that made no secret of his anger. "Sarath Kumar (the actor) was in the front row though he lost the election. Stalin has 89 seats," the DMK chief declared.  
 Jayalalithaa shattered a three-decade record by winning a consecutive term in office. Her party, the AIADMK, won 134 of 234 seats. Tamil Nadu has traditionally deprived a government of re-election, see-sawing between the DMK and Jayalalithaa's party every five years.

Jayalalithaa has taken six oaths, but is serving her fourth term. She was removed briefly from office after being jailed for corruption, but was later acquitted and returned last year to complete her third term.

The epic rivalry between her party and the DMK has seen them boycotting each other's swearing-in ceremonies. Today, Mr Stalin, who has pledged his party will serve as a strong opposition, changed that pattern.