Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa dies

The release did not mention whether the illness was with reference to her hospitalisation or the cardiac arrest that led to her death on Monday.

In 2014 she was briefly forced to step down as chief minister after she was jailed on corruption charges.

“Deeply saddened at the passing away of Jayalalithaa”.

Senior BJP leader and urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Jayalalithaa’s death was an “irreparable loss” to Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaraman died Monday following hospitalization due to a heart attack over the weekend, officials said. Governor Vidyasagar Rao administered oath of office and secrecy to him and others after observing a two minute silence.

A prominent Thevar community face in the party, Panneerselvam contested Assembly elections for the first time in 2001 from Periyakulam and became the PWD minister after winning. On this basis, Honourable Chief Minister was shifted from the Advance Critical Care Unit to High Dependancy Unit, where her health and vitals continued to improve under the close monitoring by our expert panel of specialists.

Jayalalithaa’s body will be kept at Rajaji Hall for people to pay last respects.

Last rites were performed by the politician’s long-time companion Sasikala Natarajan, who also received the national flag that had draped Ms Jayalalithaa’s body.

The Tamil Nadu government has declared a three-day holiday for schools and colleges. Circumstances had transformed a studious, soft spoken girl from a well heeled family into an “iron lady”, he said. She was “immediately administered resuscitation (CPR) and provided ECMO support within the hour”, the hospital said in its statement.

Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “V sad to hear the demise of Amma”.

Indian PM Narendra Modi (left) and late Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalithaa.

Chennai’s Apollo Hospital says.

Hundreds of police were deployed around the hospital in case crowds of devoted supporters reacted strongly to Jayalalithaa’s death.