Accolades pour in for ex-CM Jayalalithaa

Chennai: Rich tributes were paid to former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in an emotionally charged atmosphere in the State Assembly on Tuesday. Several ministers and legislators were seen getting emotional and wiping tears as Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and DMK leader M. K. Stalin heaped glowing tributes on the former AIADMK supremo.

Moving a resolution Mr. Panneerselvam described Dec. 5 as a “dark day” for Tamil Nadu and recalled the spectacular political career of Jayalalithaa since her debut in politics in 1983 at the instance of her mentor and party founder M. G. Ramachandran.

Jayalalithaa led her party to a grand victory and became chief minister for the first time in 1991 and repeated the success in 2001, 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls.

“She was numero uno in everything — whether it is studies, dance, acting or politics, and always strove to make the state number one in all fields,” Mr Panneerselvam said. She established Tamil Nadu's rights in inter-state water disputes while ushering in 'Brand Amma' under which a number of schemes were running, he pointed out.

Describing Jayalalithaa as daring, he said “Amma received praise and appreciation from various political party leaders and their members for her oratorical skills, visionary schemes, her approach towards people and tireless hard work,” Mr. Panneerselvam said and added that she had not only unified the AIADMK after MGR's demise in 1987 but also she went on to become an “unparalleled leader.” She passed away on Dec. 5, 2016 following a cardiac arrest after she was hospitalised for 75 days.

Recalling that both he and Jayalalithaa first entered the state Assembly in 1989, Leader of Opposition, Mr. Stalin, said he was a member of the ruling DMK then, while she was the Opposition Leader. Years later, she was once again Opposition Leader during the 2006-11 DMK regime when he was also Deputy Chief Minister.

When he had become the Opposition leader, Jayalalithaa was the chief minister (2016). Mr Stalin recollected an incident in 2016 he was allotted seat in the 11th row for Jayalalithaa Cabinet's swearing-in. Later, when she learnt about this, she expressed regret. “She issued a statement saying the intention was not to insult me or the DMK and had also stressed on joint working for TN’s welfare,” he said.