Condolence book for Jayalalitha in Indian mission in UK

Extending its heartfelt condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu on behalf of the government and the entire nation, the Cabinet said the people of the state have lost their popular leader.

The mortal remains of Jayalalithaa was earlier taken from her Poes Garden residence to Rajaji Hall, hours after she died at a private hospital late last night after battling for life for 75 days. However, Sasikala did not face the kind of bitterness Jayalalithaa defied from AIADMK members in 1987.

During her first term as chief minister in 1995, she threw 10 extravagant wedding ceremonies for her stepson, all in different locations. Later Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Haribhau Bagade adjourned the house for the entire day to mourn the departed leader of Tamil Nadu. Sasikala performed the final rituals in the Vaishnavite tradition to which Jayalalithaa belonged. The central government in Delhi has announced that Tuesday will be a national holiday as a mark of respect and that she will be given a funeral with full state honours.

Some regional leaders of the AIADMK, who were sidelined by Jayalalitha, may use the opportunity to stage a comeback and demand ministerial berths.

Vanita, who like many people in southern India uses only one name, said she had travelled to the state capital Chennai to see Jayalalithaa many times, and once asked for her help getting treatment for a heart complaint.

Former Chief Minister and BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa condoled the late CM’s death and said that due to unavailability of flights, he was not going to Chennai.

In particular, the extravagant wedding of Jayalalithaa’s foster son VN Sudhakaran, since disowned, in 1995 as among the reasons for her expulsion. Doctors barred visitors, sparking rumors that they were withholding bad news out of fear it could trigger the same outpouring of grief, riots and suicides that followed the death of Jayalalithaa’s political and acting mentor, M.G. Ramachandran.

During campaigns she offered gifts to potential voters.

Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK and bitter rival DMK are the main political groupings, alternating in power. The middle-level leaders were usually hand-picked and a lot of them had no political base of their own.

On December 19, 2011, Sasikala, her husband M Natarajan, and 12 others who were their close relatives were expelled from the primary membership of the party.

She also enjoyed a reputation for toughness and efficiency in a country renowned for bureaucratic delays. Sashikala is known for her power sharing capacity with Jayalalithaa and many speculate that she may take the reins of AIADMK.