She was billed as the chief guest of the evening by the host, the Union civil aviation ministry. But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stayed away from a Sunday evening function at the Chennai airport, where Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the new international departure terminal and cargo complex facilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Advani was originally named for the inauguration. Later, it was announced that the prime minister himself would be present.

The chief minister, along with Governor P S Ramamohan Rao, was also supposed to receive Vajpayee. But she did not come. Nor was she around to see off Vajpayee, who did not get out of the airport.

Revenue Minister O Panneerselvam represented Jayalalithaa.

Though no official explanation was available, the chief minister's absence was attributed to the presence of Union ministers belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

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