Thousands flock to burial spot of Jayalalithaa

Numerous mourners were poor women who had travelled long distances in intense heat to pay final respects to the revered former chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, who died late on Monday aged 68.

Jayalalithaa’s body will be kept at the Rajaji Hall for people to pay their respects, said the AIADMK, which the actor-turned-politician headed for decades.

Fearing her death might trigger widespread violence and rioting, police deployed across the state to ensure security. After her death, Jayalalithaa’s associations are in focus – whether it is with her family, with her mentor the superstar MG Ramachandran, or with her “soul sister” Sasikala Natarajan.

“On behalf of the USA, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and the people of Tamil Nadu following her passing yesterday”, American Ambassador Richard Verma said.

A large number of women and men were seen weeping and wailing “Amma, Amma” in grief. Her body was lowered into the ground, next to where MGR was buried, after receiving full state honours. Thousands are expected to attend the funeral.

Earlier in the day, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Chennai to pay tributes to the late chief minister. A month ago she was admitted at the hospital for health reasons.

Others say her branded handouts were, in part, an effort to establish a cult of personality.

“I knew of her as a film star and then saw her emerge as a politician”, Karat recalled on Tuesday, with no hard feelings towards Jayalalithaa who had walked out on the AIADMK-CPM alliance ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

“It is hard to accept that Amma is no more”, K. Nagalakshmi, who delivers milk to homes, told IANS.

She served as Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, the highest elected position in the state of 71 million people, for almost 14 years over five terms beginning in 1991. Many of them were wailing. As Chief Minister, she always stood for taking policy decisions for the benefit of commoners. She said that both of them used to come on the sets accompanied by their mothers. Images on local news channels showed police struggling to maintain order with the crowds swelling, particularly around her residence.

The streets have been barricaded as people throng the narrow lanes for an all-night vigil. “Amma, is no more”, her political party, AIADMK, said on Twitter.

“I would describe her as the personification of a brilliant mind, a woman of strength and resilience”, said Gita Shankaran, a founder of Toronto’s Madras Arts and Cultural Association.