Jaya passes away at 68

Chennai, December 5

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, one of India's most charismatic political leaders, died at 11.30 pm here today after a bitter 74-day battle for life, ending an era in Tamil Nadu politics and plunging the state in immense grief. She was 68.

Jayalalithaa, a spinster, breathed her last at the Apollo Hospital, over 24 hours after she suffered a cardiac arrest that derailed the halting progress she had been making on the health front.

Edit:  ‘Amma’

"It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma at 11.30 pm.," the hospital said in a statement.

As Jayalalithaa's death became known, a loud wail rent the air outside the Apollo Hospital where thousands had gathered since her cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, hoping against hope that she would survive.

Her body will be kept at the Rajaji Hall for people to pay their respects, said the AIADMK, which the actor-turned-politician headed for nearly three decades after the death of her mentor and Chief Minister MG Ramachandran or MGR.

Two hours after the announcement of her death, in a swift political transition, her loyalist O Panneerselvam was sworn in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at a sombre ceremony at the Raj Bhawan along with all the ministers in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa Cabinet.

As national leaders expressed grief, the Tamil Nadu Government declared seven-day mourning. Schools and colleges in the sprawling state will be closed for three days.

A veteran actor and five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on September 22 with fever and dehydration, just four months after she led the AIADMK to triumphantly retain power in the Assembly elections.

At one point in time, it seemed she was on the road to recovery, but that proved to be an illusion. 

A five-time Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa pioneered a string of social sector schemes like "cradle to baby scheme" aimed at fighting the curse of female foeticide, free gold coins for those who begot girl child.

She also opened a series of public welfare schemes under brand Amma, as she was popularly called, including "Amma canteens" to allow low-priced food to the urban poor. There were similar schemes for the poor like "Amma salt", "Amma water" and "Amma medicines".

Jayalalithaa also attracted investment, especially from abroad, in sectors like automobile and information technology.

A host of leaders, including President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and a number of film personalities have expressed grief over her death. — Agencies