Exhibiting an unusual political bonhomie, , the AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday thanked DMK leader M K Stalin for attending her swearing-in ceremony and clarified that the seating arrangement was not intended to humiliate Stalin or his party.

Putting an end to the controversy over seating arrangements, where Stalin was seated in the 18th row along with the other MLAs during the swearing-in ceremony, she said that she was unaware that Stalin was to attend the function.

Jayalalithaa’s statement came at the backdrop of DMK President M Karunanidhi flaying Jaya that she had deliberately insulted him by getting him to sit in the last of the rows.

“Had the officials brought it to my notice that he was coming, I would have asked them to skip protocol and make him sit in the front row”, she said in a release.

Stating that she was happy that Stalin attended her swearing-in ceremony, Jayalalithaa thanked him.

“I understand that Stalin was seated in the block of seats intended for Members of the Legislative Assembly”, Jayalalithaa said adding “If this seating plan caused him any discomfiture, I would like to assure him that there was no intent to show disrespect to him or his Party.

Conveying her good wishes to him, Jayalalithaa said she looks forward to working with his Party for the betterment of the State.