Tamil Nadu leaders debate MGR's legacy at India Today Conclave South 2021 | SEE PICS

Amid a tug of war over Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran's legacy, top leaders at the India Today Conclave South 2021 debated whether anybody could stake claim to MGR's legacy.

Sripriya, an actor and State Secretary, MNM, was among the panelist who debated the relevance of MGR's legacy and if anyone can fill MGR's shoes.

Sripriya said MGR reminds of charisma and intelligence put together and that "both together is undoubtedly [MNM founder] Kamal Haasan".

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan, wjo also participated in the debate, said, "They say he's [MGR] an icon but for us [AIADMK], he is a 'yugpursh'... he had a vision."

Sathyan hailed MGR saying that all he had in his mind was there are two sections of the society -- haves and have nots."

Meanwhile, TKS Elangovan, Member of Parliament, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), said, nobody can copy other leaders and that one has to come up with his own image.

Elangovan said a leader should have his own ideas for the welfare of people..."Everybody should stand isolated and not copy MGR".

Narayanan Thirupathy, spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), threw light on how the BJP views MGR's legacy.

Narayanan Thirupathy said, "BJP workers will take the example of MGR. There's nothing wrong in praising others."

Also during the debate, R Kannan, the author of 'MGR: A Life', said, "MGR was a cut above the icon."

"What MGR stands for is not charisma, but for the fact that people had immense [belief] in this man..." Kannan said.