It was All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief and Chief Minister M G Ramachandran who was instrumental in introducing Jayalalithaa to politics in 1982. Then onwards a political journey spanning over three decades saw the south Indian matinee idol courting controversies with the state as well as central leadership and becoming an icon in self. Her rule changed the very fabric of Tamil politics and at one time she became a favourite of opposition to hammer the central rulers whether Congress or the BJP leadership. In June 25, 1991 she was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with the largest number of members behind her in the State Assembly. The Tamil Nadu Assembly also has the largest number of women members – 25, belonging to the AIADMK and five to the Congress. In 1992, Jayalalithaa introduced the “Cradle Baby Scheme” to prevent female foeticide. This scheme was extended up to 2011. Her government was the first to introduce police stations operated solely by women. She introduced 30 per cent quota for women in all police jobs and established as many as 57 all-women police stations. She masterminded the fall of the BJP coalition government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by withdrawing the AIADMK’s support in a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha in April 17, 1999. In her political career, Jayalalithaa faced nine elections and has won seven. In 1972, was awarded the Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu. A multifaceted personality she was an exponent of Bharatnatyam, Kuchchipudi dances and an accomplished pianist and orator who could hold public at her sway. She also received honourary doctorates and other honours, beginning with an award from the University of Madras in 1991. With her populist schemes, she had the loyalty of numerous voters. When jailed for corruption, thousands of directors, actors and producers from the Tamil film industry went on a hunger strike demanding her release. Today also it is the same public frenzy visible in Tamil Nadu after her death with images of women wailing all along tells the story of popularly known as ‘Ammu’ turning ‘Amma’.
