Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today led the 68th Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu by hoisting the national flag, in a departure from the tradition as the state does not have a full-time Governor.
Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is attending the celebrations in Mumbai. Rao was sworn-in as Acting Governor of Tamil Nadu on September 2 last year after the tenure of K Rosaiah ended.
Panneerselvam unfurled the flag near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Kamarajar Salai, along the Marina Beach, here and took the salute.
The celebrations were attended by a host of people, including state Ministers, MPs, MLAs and government officials.
DMK Working President and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly M K Stalin along with other party MLAs was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister took the salute and led the proceedings including the parade by Army and Navy contingents.
He presented awards and medals for meritorious services to recipients of various government departments. Cultural programmes by school and college students and floats of various departments highlighting their achievements were the highlights of the parade.
Earlier, Panneerselvam along with Lieutenant General RK Anand, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat area, paid homage to the soldiers of all three services who made sacrifice to the Nation by placing a wreath at the Victory War Memorial.
A two minute silence was observed on the occasion. Security was tight in the beach area which only last week witnessed pro-jallikattu protests.
Large number of police personnel were deployed at vital junctions to avoid any untoward incidents.
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In Rameswaram, Shiv Sena's Tamil Nadu Unit
Vice-President Pugezhendhi Bose and 24 others were detained by police who foiled their attempt to proceed to Katchatheevu to hoist the national flag there.
The group was about to leave for the sea after garlanding a statue of Maruthupandiar here when police prevented them and took them into custody.
A Coimbatore report said District Collector T N Hariharan unfurled the National Flag to mark the 68th Republic Day celebrations in the district.
Hariharan received salute from police at the customary ceremonial parade and presented the Chief Minister's Medals to 76 police personnel for their meritorious services.
He distributed welfare measures worth Rs 5.03 crore to 416 beneficiaries and also honoured a few freedom fighters by adorning shawls.
In Erode, District Collector Dr S Prabakar unfurled the tri-colour in the Erode Municipal Corporation VOC Park stadium ground.
