Port Blair | LG condoles demise of Ms J Jayalalithaa

This year, Jayalalithaa broke a three-decade-long tradition by becoming the Chief Minister once again.

Following him, another bigger star, Shah Rukh Khan, posted a message after knowing that the Chief Minister had passed away. While she was recovering from her illness and likely to be discharged from the hospital soon, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister suffered a cardiac arrest. On Monday’s night, she left the world at 68.

“What she did for women, the mothers and daughters, made her Amma (mother)”.

Mr Modi placed a wreath on the body of Ms Jayalalithaa, which lay in state at Rajaji Hall in the heart of the city, and paid his last respects to the departed leader.

Chennai: The Tamil filmdom paid rich tributes to veteran movie star turned politician J. Jayalalithaa, who passed away here on Monday at the age of 68, with superstar Rajinikanth describing her as a courageous daughter.

“An eminent public figure, a charismatic personality, she had enormous influence over the political developments in Tamil Nadu as well as the national level”, said the Vice President in his condolence message.

“Her life was dedicated to the socio-economic transformation of Tamil Nadu and its people”.

Paying his tribute to J Jayalalithaa, the chairman of TVS Motor, Venu Srinivasan said, “She did a lot of work to promote industry and spur economic growth”. She also contributed immensely to Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries, he added.

Hundreds of devotees have kept a round-the-clock vigil outside the private hospital in the state capital Chennai since she was first admitted in September suffering from a fever.

Seven -day mourning has been declared in the state.

It also announced Rs 50,000 for a party functionary who allegedly attempted self-immolation and a similar amount to another person who cut his finger off following Jayalalithaas’s demise on Dec 5. “She was an extraordinary politician with exceptional administrative skills and enormous following, which made her a distinct leader in Indian politics”, Jung said. At 11:30 on Monday’s night the hospital authorities had announced about her death.

She was also one of the country’s most polarising politicians, accused of being dictatorial and was even jailed for corruption.