PM Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to Jayalalithaa

In a series of tweets last night, the Prime Minister, who enjoyed a good personal equation with the late leader, said he was "deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa.

New Delhi, Dec 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid floral tributes to J Jayalalithaa who passed away at a Chennai hospital last night. He will place a wreath on the mortal remains of Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall.

Modi flew down to Chennai in a special aircraft. From the airport he took a helicopter and landed near Rajaji Hall where Jayalalithaa's tri-colour-draped body was kept for her followers to pay their last respects. Modi and Jayalalithaa enjoyed a good rapport.

Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao received Modi at the Chennai airport.

The Prime Minister greeted the people lined up along the street with folded hands.

At Rajaji Hall, he comforted Jayalalithaa's successor Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and her close confidante Sasikala Natarajan.

Modi laid a floral wreath on Jayalalithaa's body as a mass of people thronged the public hall to pay their last respects to the AIADMK leader. Before leaving, the Prime Minister embraced Panneerselvam to console him.

Jayalalithaa's body will be cremated with full state honours Tuesday evening near her mentor M.G. Ramachandran's (MGR) memorial at Marina Beach.

The 67-year-old leader had suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Sunday evening.

PTI (with various inputs)