Vijayadharani has publicly endorsed the unveiling of Jayalalithaa’s portrait in the House, a move which has been opposed tooth and nail by all but the ruling AIADMK and the BJP. The Congress whip, elected from Kanniyakumari, who is a well-known admirer of Jayalalithaa, cited the “cradle baby scheme” and “Amma Canteen” as the reasons for supporting the event scheduled for Monday. 

Pertinently, the TNCC has chosen to decline Speaker’s invitation. Condemning the move of the ruling AIADMK, TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar on Sunday announced that his party MLAs would boycott the unveiling of the portrait. However, the joint boycott announced by the DMK and her party state chief seem not to deter Vijayadharani. 

“I am in Bengaluru now. If I manage to reach Chennai on time on Monday and if they had invited me, I will attend the portrait unveiling function. It is an individual MLAs prerogative to attend any event in the Assembly. There is no whip order for this,” she told DT Next over phone.