J JayalalithaaChennai: One of the country's most powerful female politicians, J. Jayalalithaa will be remembered as the one who rewrote the political history of Tamil Nadu.
When she single-handedly steered the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to be the third largest political party in the Lok Sabha after the 2014 elections, it turned out to be a defining moment for the party which is mainly confined to one state.
The stout politician, known as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader), was at the helm of the AIADMK for over three decades despite several ups and downs, and had immense influence on the political narrative of Tamil Nadu.
Her autocratic leadership style in the garb of democracy, as alleged by opposition parties, always invited criticisms from various quarters. However, there is one thing that made her different from other Indian politicians; the ability to influence and win the confidence of her supporters and the general public alike while keeping complete hold on the party and government affairs.
Lawyers from the Karnataka High Court hold a portrait of J Jayalalithaa during celebrations outside a court in Bengaluru. Reuters'Amma', as she is popularly known, who proclaimed herself the political heir of party founder and Tamil matinee idol M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), also made the most of her image as a movie actress to win over the masses.
She took the plunge into active politics in 1980 by becoming a member of the AIADMK. The party had come to power in Tamil Nadu in 1977, five years after MGR formed the AIADMK following differences with his friend-turned-foe Karunanidhi, who was in charge of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
MGR's decision to induct her into the AIADMK did not go down well with his own partymen. As his disgruntled colleagues were aware of the strong bond between the two, they were certain that she would work her way up in the party, jeopardizing their future.
J Jayalalithaa arrives at the 69th Independence day celebration at Fort St George in Chennai. PTI/File photoAs expected, the years that followed witnessed Jayalalithaa's meteoric rise in the party echelon as she went on to hold several top positions in the AIADMK.
Definitely, the solid support offered by MGR was instrumental in her growth. She won the by-election to the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency in 1983 and became an MLA for the first time. MGR later got her elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1984 even as the factional leaders sharpened their attack against her.
The moves within the party circles to sideline her intensified following MGR's death in 1987. The rival faction projected MGR's widow Janaki Ramachandran as his legal heir and chose her to succeed him as the chief minister and the leader of the AIADMK in an attempt to put an end to Jayalalithaa's political career.
At that time, Jayalalithaa had tendered her resignation from Rajya Sabha to concentrate on state politics. Eventually, the party began to crumble due to infighting and split into two factions.
The Janaki Ramachandran-led government lasted only 24 days, the shortest in the history, and the imposition of president's rule followed.
In 1989, the state went to polls, and the DMK, cashing in on the factional feud in the rival camp, captured power. During that period, Jayalalithaa managed to win the support of many top AIADMK functionaries and established her position in the party. In two years' time, she emerged as the numero uno of the Dravidian party with some shred political moves.
Soon, Janaki Ramachandran quit politics. In 1992, Jayalalithaa made her debut as chief minister after her party registered a landslide victory.
Thereafter, the party had only one leader. She became a key player on the national scene as well and enjoyed immense power.
Jayalalithaa always proved her detractors wrong with sheer resolve and determination as she bounced back with additional force each time, converting adversities into opportunities. When she emerged unscathed and returned as chief minister after spending 21 days in a Bengaluru jail in a disproportionate assets case, it cemented her image as an indefatigable fighter.
