NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee accompanied by Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani arrived in Madras on Wednesday night by a special aircraft to attend the wedding of Bharatiya Janata Party president Jana Krishnamurthy's son, scheduled for Thursday.
On his arrival, the prime minister was received by Tamil Nadu Governor Dr C Rangarajan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Union Ministers T R Baalu, S Ramachandran, Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP leaders, including its state President Dr S P Kirubanidhi and its General Secretary L Ganesan.
It is after seven years, the Tamil Nadu capital will again be the venue of a wedding with the country's political who's who in attendance.
The last time a wedding in this city became a political event was in 1996 when then chief minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa's nephew tied the knot. That marriage was widely criticised for its lavish extravaganza.
The last day of civic elections in the state will also take place on Thursday, and the police are already on the alert.
The wedding is to take place at Hotel Dasaprakash, and the Special Protection Group has been checking out the venue thoroughly. Many officials are reportedly not too happy with the hotel that, although renowned, is located in a crowded city centre and overlooked by high-rise commercial towers. The hotel staff has been screened, and a police control room set up on the premises.
Traffic diversions have been put up all around the area. On Thursday approaches to the hotel will be cordoned off.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
