Tamil Nadu Updates: President Ram Nath Kovind Visits Tamil Nadu Today

The grand unveiling ceremony of the portrait of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi will be held at 5 pm today in the Assembly Hall to mark the centenary of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

President Ram Nath Kovind will be the chief guest at the event, presided over by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin. The President will leave Delhi by air at 10 am today and arrive in Chennai at 12.45 pm. He then retires to the Governor's House in Guindy. He will then leave at 4.35 pm and arrive at the Assembly Hall by road at 5 pm.

As many as 7,000 police personnel will be deployed in Chennai under the direct supervision of senior police officials following the President's visit. Police are stationed at regular intervals along the President's route to carry out security work. Heavy police security is provided at the airport, the Governor's House and the General Secretariat. Central security officials have reviewed and made arrangements for security arrangements in the run-up to the President's visit.

Earlier, Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal had held consultations with top police officials on security arrangements. Police are conducting security drills from the airport to the Governor's House and then to the headquarters, where the ceremony will occur. Police said traffic would be diverted during the President's visit.

Following the President's visit, five layers of security have been put in place at the Governor's House and other areas, including the Legislature. Around 5,000 policemen are on security duty across Chennai. Fort St. George, which celebrates its centenary, is illuminated by coloured lights.

St. George's Fort, Chennai, seems like a festival to mark the opening of the portrait of the Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu of M. Karunanidhi. Due to the covid pandemic, only a few members are attending the ceremony. However, 234 MLAs, Former Speakers, Leaders of Parties in the Legislative Assembly, Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha and State MPs have been invited.

Only the senior officials, including the chief secretary and the DGP, have been invited to the ceremony. Only 320 are allowed, including 30 High Court judges, former assembly secretaries and journalists.  All the members who are heading to attend the ceremony are undergoing the corona test. The seating arrangements are made considering the covid protocols and social distancing.