J. Jayalalithaa

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J. Jayalalithaa
Vijayakant
ConstituencyAndipatti
In office
9 February 1989 – 1 December 1989
DeputySu. Thirunavukkarasar
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byO. Subramanian
Succeeded byS. R. Eradha
ConstituencyBodinayakkanur
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
4 July 2015 – 5 December 2016
Chief MinisterHerself
Preceded byP. Vetrivel
Succeeded byT. T. V. Dhinakaran
ConstituencyDr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
In office
23 May 2011 – 27 September 2014
Chief MinisterHerself
Preceded byM. Paranjothi
Succeeded byS. Valarmathi
ConstituencySrirangam
In office
24 February 2002 – 14 May 2011
Chief Minister
Preceded byThanga Tamil Selvan
Succeeded byThanga Tamil Selvan
ConstituencyAndipatti
In office
1 July 1991 – 12 May 1996
Chief MinisterHerself
Preceded byK. R. Rajendran
Succeeded byE. G. Sugavanam
ConstituencyBargur
In office
1 July 1991 – 23 July 1991
Chief MinisterHerself
Preceded byP. Marapan
Succeeded byR. M. Veerappan
ConstituencyKangayam
In office
6 February 1989 – 30 January 1991
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byK. S. M. Ramachandran
Succeeded byV. Panneerselvam
ConstituencyBodinayakkanur
5th General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
1 January 1988[a] – 5 December 2016
Preceded byM. G. Ramachandran
Succeeded byEdappadi K. Palaniswami
Propaganda Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
5 September 1985 – 31 December 1987
Party PresidentM. G. Ramachandran
General Secretary
In office
28 January 1983 – 20 August 1984
Party PresidentM. G. Ramachandran
General SecretaryP. U. Shanmugam
Preceded byR. Manimaran
Personal details
Born(1948-02-24)24 February 1948
Melukote, Mysore State, Dominion of India
(present day Karnataka, India)
Died5 December 2016(2016-12-05) (aged 68)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Cause of deathCardiac arrest
Resting placeM.G.R. and Amma Memorial
Political partyAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
RelativesDeepa Jayakumar (niece)
Residence(s)Veda Nilayam,
81, Poes Thottam, Teynampet, Chennai – 600086, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma mater
Profession
  • Film actress
  • classical dancer
  • singer
  • writer
  • politician
  • philanthropist
Awards
Signature
Nickname(s)Amma
Puratchi Thalaivi
Kalai Selvi
Makkalaal Naan Makkalukaaga Naan
("I am by the people for the people")

Jayaram Jayalalithaa

Dravidian party whose cadre revered her as their "Amma" (Mother) and "Puratchi Thalaivi" (Revolutionary leader).[5]

Jayalalithaa rose to prominence as a leading film actress in the mid-1960s. Though she had begun her acting career reluctantly at her mother's behest to support the family, Jayalalithaa was a prolific actor. She appeared in

V. N. Janaki Ramachandran, emerged as the sole leader of the AIADMK. Following the 1989 election, she became Leader of the Opposition to the DMK-led government led by M. Karunanidhi
, her bête noire. In
1998 general election, as the AIADMK became a key component of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 1998–99 government; her withdrawal of support toppled it and triggered another general election
just a year later.

The AIADMK returned to power in 2001, although Jayalalithaa was personally disbarred from contesting due to the corruption cases. Within a few months of her taking oath as chief minister, in September 2001, she was disqualified from holding office and forced to cede the chair to minister O. Panneerselvam. Upon her acquittal six months later, Jayalalithaa returned as chief minister to complete her term. Noted for its ruthlessness to political opponents, many of whom were arrested in midnight raids, her government grew unpopular. Another period (2006–11) in the opposition followed, before Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time after the AIADMK swept the 2011 assembly election. Her government received attention for its extensive social-welfare agenda, which included several subsidised "Amma"-branded goods such as canteens, bottled water, salt and cement. Three years into her tenure, she was convicted in a disproportionate-assets case, rendering her disqualified to hold office. She returned as chief minister after being acquitted in May 2015. In the 2016 assembly election, she became the first Tamil Nadu chief minister since M.G.R in 1984 to be voted back into office. That September, she fell severely ill and, following 75 days of hospitalisation, died on 5 December 2016 due to cardiac arrest and became the first female chief minister in India to die in office.

Jayalalithaa never married and had no children.

personality cult and of demanding absolute loyalty from AIADMK legislators and ministers, who often publicly prostrated themselves before her.[9]

Early life, education and family

Jayalalithaa was born on 24 February 1948 to Jayaram and Vedavalli (Sandhya) in a Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family at Melukote, Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district, then in Mysore State (now Karnataka). She had a brother named Jayakumar.[10][11][12][13]

Her paternal grandfather, Narasimhan Rengachary, was in the service of the

Mysore kingdom as a surgeon and served as the court physician to Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV of Mysore. Her maternal grandfather, Rangasamy Iyengar, moved to Mysore from Srirangam to work with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. He had one son and three daughters—Ambujavalli, Vedavalli, and Padmavalli. Vedavalli was married to Jayaram, son of Narasimhan Rengachary. The couple Jayaram-Vedvalli had two children: a son Jayakumar and a daughter, Jayalalitha.[14] Her mother, her relatives and later co-stars and friends referred to her as Ammu.[15]
The name Jayalalithaa was adopted at the age of one for the purpose of using the name in schools and colleges. It was derived from the names of two houses where she resided in Mysore. One was "Jaya Vilas" and the other "Lalitha Vilas".

She is from the same lineage of popular figures like

Mysore Legislative Council) and famous lawyer L. S. Raju who made significant contribution in the history of Mysore State (Now Karnataka).[16]

Jayalalithaa's father, Jayaram, was a lawyer but never worked and squandered most of the family's wealth. He died when Jayalalithaa was two years old. The widowed Vedavalli returned to her father's home in

Bangalore in 1950.[9] Vedavalli learnt shorthand and typewriting to take up a clerical position to help support the family in 1950. Her younger sister Ambujavalli had moved to Madras, working as an air hostess. She also started acting in drama and films using the screen name Vidyavathy. On the insistence of Ambujavalli, Jayalalithaa's mother Vedavalli also relocated to Madras and stayed with her sister from 1952. Vedavalli worked in a commercial firm in Madras and began dabbling in acting from 1953 under the screen name Sandhya. Jayalalithaa remained under the care of her mother's sister Padmavalli and maternal grandparents from 1950 to 1958 in Mysore.[9][14] While still in Bangalore, Jayalalithaa attended Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore.[17] In later interviews, Jayalalithaa spoke emotionally about how she missed her mother growing up in a different city. She had the opportunity to visit her mother during the summer holidays.[14]

After her aunt Padmavalli's marriage in 1958, Jayalalithaa moved to Madras and began to live with her mother. She completed her education at Sacred Heart Matriculation School (popularly known as Church Park Presentation Convent or Presentation Church Park Convent).[14][18]

She excelled at school and was offered a government scholarship to pursue further education.

Stella Maris College, Chennai; however, discontinued her studies due to pressure from her mother and became a film actress.[19][20]

The Poes Garden plot was bought by Jayalalithaa and her mother on 1 July 1967 at a cost of ₹ 1.32 lakh, measuring around 24,000 sq. feet (10 grounds) with a built-up area of 21,662 sq. feet.[21][22] Jayalalithaa's mother Sandhya died in November 1971 at the age of 47.[23] Jayalalithaa herself held the house warming ceremony of her residence Veda Nilayam (named after her beloved mother Vedavalli alias Sandhya) on 15 May 1972, early in the morning, followed by dinner and a Veena recital by classical musician Chitti babu in the evening.[24] Her brother's wedding took place at her Veda Nilayam home in Poes Garden in 1972.[25][26] Her brother Jayakumar, his wife Vijayalakshmi and their daughter Deepa Jayakumar lived in Poes Garden with Jayalalithaa till 1978[27] and then moved to T.Nagar Madras at the bungalow 'Sandhya Illam' which was bought by mother of Jayalalithaa.[28] Her brother was unhappy with adoption of Sudhakaran, a relative of Sasikala, as foster son of Jayalalithaa.[29] Jayalalithaa had adopted Sasikala's nephew Sudhakaran in 1995 and disowned him in 1996.[30] Her brother died in 1995 of heart attack.[31]

She was fluent in several languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and English.[32] She spoke with actress Saroja Devi in Kannada regularly as they were close friends and would talk to each other only in Kannada. She often conversed with Karnataka Chief ministers in Kannada. Basavaraj Bommai, the former irrigation minister and later chief minister of Karnataka said, "I was astonished by her Kannada slang and fluency."[33][34]

She was fond of having dogs as her pets. But after the death of Julie, a spitz, in 1998 she could not bear the loss and hence discontinued keeping pet dogs at her home.[35]

Film career

Jayalalithaa in Gandikota Rahasyam Movie – 1969

Early career

In Madras (now

Shivaji Ganesan, who called her a "thanga silai" (golden statue) and expressed wish that Jayalalithaa becomes a film star in future.[40][41]

While a child, Jayalalithaa acted in the Kannada-language film

Goddess Parvathy in a school drama scene in the film failed to show up and the producer Neerlahalli Thalikerappa and director Aroor Pattabhi asked Sandhya if Jayalalithaa could be asked to act in the dance sequence. Sandhya agreed and Jayalalithaa was swiftly dressed up as Parvathy and the scene was shot in Sri Shaila Mahatme.[43]

She played Lord

Hindi film Man-Mauji (1962) and danced with Kumari Naaz who played Radha. Y. G. Parthasarathy
ran the drama troupe United Amateur Artistes (UAA), which staged English and Tamil plays. Soon Jayalalithaa while a schoolgirl began acting in some plays of Parthasarathy along with her mother and aunt. She acted in small roles in plays such as Tea House of the August Moon and Undersecretary between 1960 and 1964.

Shankar Giri, the son of the former Indian President V. V. Giri, saw her small role in the English play Tea Houses of August Moon and was impressed. Shankar Giri approached her mother Sandhya and told he wanted to cast her daughter in an English film called The Epistle. Sandhya reluctantly agreed with the condition that shooting should be held only during weekends or school holidays.[39]

Sandhya had acted in the 1964 Tamil film Karnan, produced and directed by Kannada film-maker B. R. Panthulu. Jayalalithaa accompanied her mother to a party related to the film and was spotted by Panthulu, who then decided to cast her opposite Kalyan Kumar in the Kannada movie Chinnada Gombe. He promised to finish all shooting within two months in order not to interfere with her education. Since Jayalalithaa would be studying for her PUC in two months' time, Sandhya had declined the offer initially.[44] Sandhya agreed when that promise was made and Jayalalithaa started acting and she was paid 3,000 (equivalent to 160,000 or US$2,000 in 2023). Panthulu kept his promise and completed shooting in six weeks. Jayalalithaa had forgotten all about films after acting in her Kannada debut film and had got ready to attend classes at Stella Maris as she had the ambition to be a lawyer. But the Kannada debut film became a blockbuster in 1964 and she became a well-known face.

Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa continued acting in Parthasarathy's plays. She played the leading role in plays such as Malathi, The Whole Truth, and the dance drama Kaveri Thanda Kalaiselvi between 1960 and 1966. She made her debut as the lead actress in Kannada films while still in school, age 15, in Chinnada Gombe (1964).[44] She also appeared in a dance sequence of a song named "Malligeya Hoovinantha" in the movie Amarashilpi Jakanachari (1964).[9]

She made her debut in Tamil theatre in April 1964, when she played a sales girl in the drama named Undersecretary. Parthasarathy and Sandhya were the lead characters, while Jayalalitha and Cho Ramaswamy were paired together and A. R. Srinivasan was also involved. The play was based on the lives of middle aged couple and Jayalaithaa played character of sales girl in the drama. Her performance caused Parthasarathy to make her lead heroine in a drama named Malathy. Meanwhile, the films she had shot during her vacation in April–May 1964—Chinnada Gombe and Manushulu Mamathalu—became blockbusters. By end of 1965, she had become popular among film producers and directors.[44] She was approached by C. V. Sridhar for her Tamil film debut as well. Between 1964 and 1966 she did around 35 shows of drama named Malathy and later discontinued as she became very busy in films.[39] It was during the year 1964, financial debts had increased of Sandhya and she suggested her daughter make use of the increasing film offers to come her way.[45]

Jayalalithaa's debut in Tamil cinema was the leading role in Vennira Aadai (1965), directed by C. V. Sridhar.[38] She made her debut in Telugu films as lead actress in Manushulu Mamathalu opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Her last Telugu release was also opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the film Nayakudu Vinayakudu, which was released in 1980.[46] She was the first heroine to appear in skirts in Tamil films.[47] She acted in one Hindi film called Izzat, with Dharmendra as her male costar in 1968.[48] She starred in 28 box-office hit films with M.G. Ramachandran between 1965 and 1973.[49] The first with M.G.R. was B.R. Panthalu's Aayirathil Oruvan in 1965 and their last film together was Pattikaattu Ponnaiya in 1973.[50]

Jayalalithaa donated gold jewelleries she had to the then Indian Prime Minister

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.[51]

She had 11 successful releases in Tamil in 1966. In the opening credits of Arasa Kattalai, for the first time her name was affixed with the phrase "Kavarchi Kanni".[52] In 1967 she bought her bungalow, Veda Nilayam, in Poes Gardens for 132,000 (equivalent to 7.0 million or US$88,000 in 2023).[53]

Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar was on the lookout for a regular heroine for his production after he had fight with the actress Savitri after the release of Vetaikkaran, and he signed Jayalalithaa on in 1965. She became a regular heroine for production house Devar films from 1966.[54]

Vandhale Magarasi, Bommalattam (1968), Raja Veetu Pillai and Avalukku Aayiram Kangal, whereas the films Thanga Gopuram and Gowri Kalyanam
had him play elder brother to her.

Jayalalithaa acted in twelve films as heroine opposite

(1980).

She also made a guest appearance in Telugu film Navarthi (1966). Her films in Telugu also included two with Krishna and one each with Sobhan Babu, Jaggayya, Ramakrishna and Haranath.[55] She was given on-screen credit as Kalai Selvi in most of her Tamil films since 1967.[44]

Later career

Between 1965 and 1973, Jayalalithaa starred opposite

Yarrukkum Vetkam Illai.[57]

She acted with

in 1973.

In 1973, she acted in

Jayalalithaa was paired opposite

Oru Thaai Makkal. She made her debut in Malayalam with Jesus (1973).[60] Her 100th film was Thirumangalyam (1974), directed by A. Vincent.[61]

She was romantically paired opposite

Kandan Karunai and Sri Krishna Leela. Sivakumar played supporting roles in Shakti Leelai, Yarrukum Vetkam Ilali, Thirumangalyam, Annaivelakanni, Kavalkaran, Motoram Sunderapillai and Ganga Gowri.[62]

In 1972, Jayalalithaa was invited to perform with her dance troupe in

Kannadiga girl. Jayalalithaa responded by issuing a statement contradicting him in an interview to Vikatan magazine that she was a Tamilian and not a Kannadiga. Jayalalithaa was at Premier studio in Mysuru for the shooting of the B. R. Panthulu's film Ganga Gowri. The group of Kannada activists from Vatal Nagaraj's outfit got to know of this and invaded the studio premises. The mob surrounded Jayalalithaa and demanded that she withdraw her statement of being a Tamil woman. Jayalalithaa was defiant even when mob had encircled her. "I am a Tamil girl, not a Kannada girl," Jayalalithaa responded loudly in Tamil, refusing to bow even as protestors gathered around her.[34][63]

The heroes of her films never objected to the title of the film being conferred on the female lead played by Jayalalithaa.

.

She received the title "Nadippuku Ilakkium Vahuthavar" from then Chief Minister Karunanidhi[64] and also won Tamil Nadu Cinema Fan Award for Best Actress for her 100th film Thirumangalyam in 1974.[65] Her last film in Tamil was Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal (1980).[48] Her last film as the heroine was Nayakudu Vinayakudu in Telugu,[citation needed] which became the highest grosser of the year in Telugu.

Her successful Kannada films include Badukuva Daari (1966), Mavana Magalu (1965), Nanna Kartavya (1965), Chinnada Gombe (1964) and Mane Aliya (1964). Jayalalithaa holds the record for having been the Tamil actress with maximum silver jubilee hits in her career—85 hits of 92 Tamil films as main female lead heroine and she also has all 28 films in Telugu as silver jubilee hits.[45] She was the highest-paid Indian actress from 1965 to 1980. She made guest appearances in nine films and six of her films were dubbed into Hindi. She had 119 box office hits between 1961 and 1980, of the total 125 films she did as the main female lead. She made a brief appearance in 1992's Neenga Nalla Irukkanum.[66]

She acted in mythological films like Kandan Karunai, Aadhi Parashakti, Shri Krishna Satya, Shri Krishna Vijayam, Shri Rama Katha, Shri Krishna Leela, Shakti Leelai, Ganga Gowri, Annai Velankanni and Jesus. Her period dramas include Ayirathil Oruvan, Neerum Neruppum, Mani Magudam, Adimai Penn, Ali Baba 40 Dongalu, Arasa Katalai, and Baghdad Perazhagi.

She acquired the reputation of being a multi-faceted actor equally comfortable in fantasy and mythological genres as well as in modern social dramas[67] and hence in 1969, in Tamil Conference, she was given the tag of "Kaveri Thandha Kalai Selvi".[68]

She,

Saroja Devi have been cited as the first female superstars of Tamil cinema. She did double roles in eight films.[69]

She received Special Award from Filmfare for her performances in 'Chandhrodhayam', 'Adimai Penn' and 'Engirundho Vandhaal' in the years 1966, 1969 and 1970 as the

Suryagandhi were critically acclaimed and won her consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Actress
in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

From 1968 to 1973, at the peak of her career she took interviews and wrote columns in the magazines like Bommai. She wrote a column-"Ennangal Sila" in magazine Thuglak in the 1970s. She also wrote a short story, "Oravin Kaidhigal", for the magazine Kalki, "Manadhai Thotta Malargal" for Thaai magazine in the early 1980s.[71] She wrote about her own life in a serialised memoir in the Tamil weekly magazine Kumudam.[72]

In 1980, she decided to voluntarily decline any new film offers. An Australia-based journalist Brian Laul took over the mantle of Piousji ('Khaas Bhat'- The filmi gossip column) wrote an article specifying Jayalalithaa was trying for a comeback but was not being offered any roles. Jayalalithaa chose to respond to him by writing a letter, in which she mentioned that she was not struggling to make any comeback and that she turned down the offer from producer Balaji to star in Billa (1980) alongside Rajinikanth. She added she wanted to pursue other interests and was not interested in pursuing her film career any further.[73][74]

Her closest friends from film industry included

R.S.Manohar.[citation needed
]

She quoted on M. G. Ramachandran, "He was a very warm and caring kind of a person. And after Mother died, he replaced her in my life. He was everything to me. He was mother, father, brother, friend, philosopher, guide. Everything. He sort of took over my life." In many of her interviews she often said she entered films on being asked by her mother and entered politics on request by M. G. Ramachandran.[78]

Political career

Early political career

Jayalalithaa at the public meeting in 1980s

Jayalalithaa denied claims that M.G.R., who had been chief minister for the state since 1977, was instrumental in introducing her to politics.

Tiruchendur Assembly constituency in February that year.[80][84][85]

M.G.R. wanted her to be a member of the Rajya Sabha because of her fluency in English. She defeated Arcot N. Veeraswami, who is the senior DMK leader in 1984 Rajya Sabha elections.[87][88] Indira Gandhi lauded Jayalalithaa for the various speeches she made on issues including the one on internal security in Rajya Sabha.[89] Jayalalithaa was elected to that body in 1984 and retained her seat until 1989.[90] Jayalalithaa was one of the 16 special guests who were invited to participate the state dinner hosted by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in honour of Erstwhile Yugoslavian President Veselin Djuranovic at Rashtrapati Bhavan.[91] Her success in her role as propaganda secretary caused resentment among high-ranking members of the party. By engineering a rift between her and M.G.R., these members influenced M.G.R. to stop her writing about her personal life in a Tamil magazine. Despite these machinations, she remained admired by the rank and file of the party.[9] She was given key responsibilities, including in the implementation of the landmark noon-meals scheme when M. G. Ramachandran was the chief minister and this taught her lessons in welfare politics. Under the instructions of MGR, She resigned as the Propaganda Secretary on 20 August 1984 to pacify the disgruntled leaders in the party.[92] Later when M.G.R. fell ill, she campaigned extensively for the party before the 1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.[93]

Jayalalithaa at a meeting in Palani in 1984

In 1984, when M.G.R. was incapacitated due to a stroke, Jayalalithaa was said to have attempted to take over the position of

chief minister or the party on the pretext that his health would prevent him from the proper execution of his duties.[94] She successfully led the campaign in the 1984 general elections, in which the AIADMK allied with the Congress.[90] On the midnight of 31 December 1984, When MGR was in United States, Jayalalithaa was unceremoniously turned out of Tamil Nadu House, which was her official residence as a Rajya Sabha M.P. by the coterie against her.[95] She was reappointed as the Propaganda Secretary of the party on 5 September 1985.[96] Following his death in 1987, the AIADMK split into two factions: one supported his widow, V. N. Janaki This faction was called AIADMK (JA) and the other favoured Jayalalithaa called AIADMK (J). Jayalalithaa faction was supported by senior leaders like V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, Panruti S. Ramachandran, Aranganayagam, KKSSR Ramachandran, Thirunavukarasar. On 1 January 1988, Jayalalithaa was elected as the general secretary of AIADMK by the leaders of her faction and It was ratified by the party general council convened by her on the next day.[97][98] Janaki was selected as the Chief Minister on 7 January 1988 with the support of 96 members; due in part to irregularities by speaker P. H. Pandian, who dismissed six members to ease her victory, she won a motion of confidence in the house. However, Rajiv Gandhi used Article 356 of the Constitution of India to dismiss the Janaki-led government and impose president's rule on the state.[9][99][100]

At the age of 41, Jayalalithaa entered the Assembly successfully contesting the subsequent 1989 elections on the basis of being M.G.R.'s political heir.[101]

Leader of the Opposition, 1989

She was elected to the

Bodinayakkanur constituency. This election saw the Jayalalithaa-led faction of the AIADMK win 27 seats and Jayalalithaa became the first woman to be elected Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. She is the first Indian actress and first woman to become an opposition leader in India. On 9 February 1989, the two factions of AIADMK merged and they unanimously accepted Jayalalithaa as the general secretary of the party and the "Two leaves" symbol of the party was restored.[39]

On 25 March 1989, as claimed by the party and a section of the members present in the assembly, amidst heavy violence inside the house among the ruling DMK party members and the opposition, Jayalalithaa was attacked by the ruling DMK members in front of the assembly speaker

Peranamallur assembly constituencies.[90]

First term as Chief Minister, 1991

In 1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi days before the elections, her alliance with the Indian National Congress enabled her to ride the wave of sympathy that gave the coalition victory.[113][114] The AIADMK alliance with the Congress won 225 out of the 234 seats contested and won all 39 constituencies in the centre.[90] Re-elected to the assembly, she became the state's youngest chief minister, and the first woman to serve a full term, serving from 24 June 1991 to 12 May 1996.[90][100] In 1992, her government introduced the "Cradle Baby Scheme". At that time the ratio of male to female in some parts of Tamil Nadu was skewed by the practice of female infanticide and the abortion of female foetuses. The government established centres in some areas, these being equipped to receive and place into adoption unwanted female babies. The scheme was extended in 2011.[115] Her party had 226 elected members to the assembly. Her government was the first to introduce police stations operated solely by women. She introduced 30% quota for women in all police jobs and established as many as 57 all-women police stations. There were other all-women establishments like libraries, stores, banks and co-operative elections.[116] She began to be referred as Thanga Gopuram, Thanga Silai ('Golden Statue') by her followers.[117]

In July 1993, she observed fast for 80 hours (four days) near the

Marina beach, demanding that Karnataka release Kaveri water for the kuruvai crop. She ended her fast only after Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao sent his Cabinet colleague and Union Water Resources Minister V.C. Shukla to Chennai to assure her that the centre would set up two committees to ensure implementation of the 1991-interim award of the Tribunal.[118][119]

Reservations

In 1992, The Supreme Court Verdict which ruled that the overall amount of reservations allowed should not exceed 50% as per Article 16(4) endangered the 69 Percent Reservation in Tamil Nadu.[120]

In 1993, the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes Bill, 1993 was passed by the Assembly (Act 45 of 1994).[121] The Bill was sent to the President Shankar Dayal Sharma for his approval. J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK government led a cross-party committee of Tamil Nadu politicians to Delhi to meet with the Prime Minister Narasimha Rao led Central government and stepped up pressure on the centre to bring in a Constitutional amendment to include the Tamil Nadu Act in the Ninth Schedule, ensuring that its validity cannot be challenged in any court. By the end of August 1994, the Act became a part of the Ninth Schedule by the presidential accent, confirming "the 69 percent reservation" exclusive for Tamil Nadu.[122] The development fetched her the title of "Samooga Neethi Kaatha Veeranganai" (The leader who upheld Social justice) by K. Veeramani, General Secretary of Dravidar Kazhagam.[123][124]

On 20 January 1994, Mother Teresa Called on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at her poes garden residence in chennai and lauded her welfare projects for girls, destitute women and the aged. Mother Teresa reportedly said that she and Jayalalithaa, India's then only female chief minister, were "working for and fulfilling the same noble cause". Mother Teresa said she would pray daily for Jayalalithaa, whose projects included the Cradle Baby Scheme (CBS)[125] Mother Teresa was also present at the State function on the International Women's Day On 9 March 1994 at Madras which Jayalalithaa later recalled as "memorable event in my life".[126]

She first invited

Daimler, Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Wright and Yamaha. Due to this, Madras (now Chennai) began to be called as the Detroit of India under her first term.[127] Royal Enfield made significant expansion in Tamil Nadu and apart from Ashok Leyland, TAFE and TVS Motors became key players in Tamil Nadu.[128]

Loss of power, 1996

The Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK lost power in the 1996 elections, when it won 4 of the 168 seats that they contested.

Shivaji Ganesan, was held on 7 September 1995 at Madras and was viewed on large screens by over 150,000 people. The event holds two Guinness World Records: one is for the most guests at a wedding and the other is for being the largest wedding banquet.[9][130][131] Subsequently, in November 2011, Jayalalithaa told a special court than the entire 60 million (equivalent to 360 million or US$4.5 million in 2023) expenses associated with the wedding were paid by the family of the bride.[132]

Though Sudhakaran was adopted by Jayalalithaa as her foster son in 1995, when she became aware that Sudhakaran began to interfere in her financial affairs and that he took money without intending to repay, she disowned him in 1996 within one year of adoption.[133]

There were several corruption cases filed against her by the ruling DMK government headed by Karunanidhi. Jayalalithaa was arrested on 7 December 1996 and was remanded to 30-day judicial custody in connection with the

Colour TV scam, which charged her with receiving kickbacks to the tune of 101.3 million (equivalent to 600 million or US$7.6 million in 2023). The investigation alleged that the amount through the TV dealers were routed in the form of cheques to a relative of Sasikala, who had quoted Jayalalithaa's residence as hers. She earlier filed an anticipatory bail in the trial court, which was rejected on 7 December 1996.[134] She was acquitted in the case on 30 May 2000 by the trial court and the High Court upheld the order of the lower court.[135][136]

When questioned on her views on Sasikala, Jayalalithaa quoted in 1996 "Sasikala never functioned as extra constitutional power centre. Calling her de facto chief minister is nonsense. She is not interested in politics and I have no intention to bring her into politics." It annoyed her when people said Sasikala was behind many of her political decisions and termed such news as rubbish and insult to her position as chief minister.[137]

In 1998, AIADMK

CPI(M), INL and managed to win 13 lok sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and a lone seat in puducherry with the AIADMK winning 10 seats in Tamil Nadu.[141][142]

She was also convicted in Pleasant Stay hotel case on 3 February 2000 by a trial court to one-year imprisonment.

Second term as Chief Minister, 2001

Jayalalithaa strengthened the AIADMK led Secular Democratic Progressive Alliance consisting Congress, Left parties by bringing in parties like Moopanar's TMC, PMK, IUML and other smaller parties for 2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.[143] Jayalalithaa was barred from standing as a candidate in the 2001 elections because she was found guilty of criminal offences, including allegedly obtaining property belonging to a state-operated agency called TANSI. Although she appealed to the Supreme Court of India, having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the matter was not resolved at the time of the elections.[144] But she nominationed for contest in Andipatti, Krishnagiri, Bhuvanagiri and Pudukottai constituencies. All were rejected as she had been disqualified from contesting the polls at that time following conviction in the TANSI land deal case, Pleasant stay hotel case and Since one cannot file nomination for more than two constituencies.[145] The AIADMK Alliance won the landslide victory of 196 seats in the 234-membered assembly. The AIADMK returned to power in 2001 by winning majority and she took oath as Chief Minister as a non-elected member of the state assembly on 14 May 2001.[100]

Noted for its ruthlessness to political opponents, many of whom were arrested in midnight raids, her government grew unpopular. Her appointment was legally voided in September 2001 when the Supreme Court ruled that she could not hold it whilst convicted of criminal acts.

puppeted and micro-managed by Jayalalithaa.[100][146]

Jayalalithaa was acquitted in both the TANSI and Pleasant Stay Hotel cases on 4 December 2001 and the Supreme Court upheld the order of the High Court on 24 November 2003.[147][148]

Third term as Chief Minister, 2002

Upon her acquittal, She contested a bye-poll to the

Andipatti constituency, after the sitting MLA Thanga Tamil Selvan
resigned for the seat, gave up his membership, which she won by a handsome margin in February 2002. Subsequently, On 2 March 2002, Jayalalithaa returned as Chief Minister once more to complete her term, having been acquitted of some charges by the Madras High Court.[149]

Jayalalithaa with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

India's first company of female police commandos was set up in Tamil Nadu in 2003. They underwent the same training as their male counterparts, covering the handling of weapons, detection and disposal of bombs, driving, horseriding, and adventure sports.[150] The government led by her in 2003 banned sale of all lotteries, including online, within the territory of the state, despite the risk of the state losing revenue. She gave orders to a special task force headed by K. Vijaykumar[151] to conduct a secret operation to capture and kill the bandit Veerappan by entering Karnataka.[152] In 2004 she declared eliminating Veerappan as biggest achievement of her government and quoted ""My only brief to them was capture Veerappan dead or alive. After that I never interfered. I left them to work out their own strategies and this paid off."[153] She began to be referred as 'People's CM' (Makallin Mudhalvar) and Iron Lady of India by end of this term.[154] In this term she launched a rainwater harvesting scheme in 2001 to rejuvenate water sources and this improved ground water levels in the parched southern state and this idea was replicated by various states and even by the centre. She also started the Veeranam project to deliver water to the dry metropolis of Chennai.[155] Doctor Manmohan Singh frequently praised Jayalalithaa for her administrative skills, mid-day meal schemes and efforts for gender empowerment.[156]

Her administrative abilities were notable in her handling of events following the tsunami that hit Tamil Nadu on 26 December 2004. Jayalalithaa announced a Rs 153.37 crore relief package, divided into a general package and a separate one for fishermen. She announced that affected families would get Rs 1 lakh as compensation for every member lost, along with one dhoti, one sari, two bedsheets, 60 kg of rice, three litres of kerosene, and Rs 1,000 in cash for groceries and that furthermore, Rs 1,000 was to be given for purchase of utensils, Rs 2,000 so they could put up accommodation. Per family, and there were about one lakh families in all, the package would cost about Rs 5,000. The fishermen also received an extra Rs 65 crore meant to cover gill nets and boats. It was only a matter of hours before Nagapattinam had its power supply back. With the state working on disaster management for over seven years, response time had been reduced significantly; mobile cranes and ambulances were on patrol. The government entrusted district administration with rehabilitation of affected families, and when they were found to be incompetent, she reshuffled or sacked officers immediately. Jayalalithaa even extended help to the Sri Lankan government by instating officers to guide the island nation in the process of rehabilitation. Her administrative style was uncompromising, whether it was banning the sale of gutkha, or mandatory installation of rainwater harvesting systems, but, she got things done on time without any ifs or buts, as was seen with the tsunami relief, ensuring people remembered not the ruthlessness of her tenure, but the help it gave them.[157][158]

On 11 May 2006, Jayalalithaa resigned as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu following her party's defeat in the assembly elections.[159][160]

Leader of the Opposition, 2006

Jayalalithaa with the leaders of CPI(M) Party

AIADMK fared poorly in May

Andipatti. Though her main opposition, DMK did not win a single party majority (96/234), DMK coalition had 162/234 seats and formed the cabinet until 2011 which she referred to as "Minority DMK government".[161][162]

On 29 May 2006, Jayalalithaa was unanimously elected as Leader of the Opposition by AIADMK MLAs replacing

MDMK
managed to win 12 seats with the AIADMK winning 9 seats.

Sri Lankan Tamil Issue

In August 2008, Jayalalithaa moved the Supreme Court to nullify the Katchatheevu agreements of 1974 and 1976. She had raised the retrieval of the islet in her maiden Independence Day address in August 1991. In 1991, Jayalalithaa led Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the retrieval of Katchatheevu. During the civil war and with northern borders under the control of the LTTE, the fishermen had easy access to the fishing grounds.[165]

Jayalalithaa undertook a day-long fast in March 2009, a couple of months before the Parliamentary elections demanding an immediate ceasefire. She accused then Chief Minister Karunanidhi led DMK government in the State and the UPA government at the Centre of "criminal neglect in failing to provide relief and succour to the Sri Lankan Tamils".[166]

In April 2009, LTTE Chief Prabhakaran thanked Jayalalithaa for voicing her support in favour of Tamil Eelam through a secret letter. It was later revealed by AIADMK MP Maitreyan.[167]

After she returned to power in May 2011, the Assembly had adopted several resolutions, seeking an international probe into the alleged war crimes and genocide in the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War. She also demanded an economic embargo on Sri Lanka. She expressed her opposition not only to the presence of Sri Lankan military personnel receiving training anywhere in India but also to that of Sri Lankan sportspersons.[166]

As for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu, she had changed her position. Originally, she justified the refugees taking shelter in the State "as long as the genocide continues" in the Sri Lanka. But, after the Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, she had branded the refugee camps as "breeding grounds" for LTTE militants. However, she turned sympathetic again to the refugees in 2011. She not only enhanced allowance for them but also announced a special scheme for building "durable houses" for rehabilitation.[166]

Protest Rallies

In late 2010, Jayalalithaa as an opposition leader held three big rallies to protest against the

Trichy on 14 August and Madurai on 18 October. These rallies drew lakhs of people, were seen as the shows of strength by the AIADMK ahead of 2011 Assembly Election.[168][169][170][171]

Fourth term as Chief Minister, 2011

Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time after the AIADMK swept the

Srirangam
. Her government received attention for its extensive social-welfare agenda, which included several subsidised "Amma"-branded goods such as (Amma canteens, Amma bottled water, Amma salt, Amma medical shops, Amma cement and Amma baby care kit).

In April 2011, the AIADMK was part of a 13-party alliance that won 203 out of 234 Seats in the 14th state assembly elections. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fourth time on 16 May 2011, having been elected unanimously as the leader of the AIADMK party subsequent to those elections.[172]

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Jayalalithaa at Chief Secretariat of Tamil Nadu

On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa expelled her long-time close friend V. K. Sasikala and 13 others from the AIADMK after she became aware that Sasikala and her family were working against her.[173] Most of the party members welcomed her decision.[174] The matter was resolved by 31 March when Sasikala was reinstated as a party member after issuing a written apology.[175] Sasikala in her written apology mentioned that she had no ambitions either in the party or in the government and wanted to serve Jayalalithaa and added that she became aware of misdeeds done by her family members when Jayalalithaa was in power. Only after Sasikala promised to be not in touch with her family members, Jayalalithaa allowed Sasikala back to her house.[176]

In this term, she announced the Pension Scheme for Destitute Transgender by which those above ages of 40 could get a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000. Her government ensured members of the transgender community could enrol for education and job.[177] Beginning from 2011, every year her government gave free laptops to students who clear tenth and twelfth standard to impart digital education to rural areas.[178] Her government in 2011 decided to give four goats and a cow to each family below poverty line – mixer and grinders and fans for households, 3 sets of free uniforms, school, bags, notebooks, geometry boxes for all children in government schools, and cycles and laptops for Class 11 and 12 students.[179] In 2011 she launched the marriage assistance scheme wherein the female students received 4 gram gold free for use as Thirumangalyam for their marriage and cash assistance up to Rs. 50,000 for undergraduate or diploma holding females.[180] There were rampant power cut issues between 2006 and 2011 while AIADMK was in opposition wherein for 10 to 15 hours there was no supply of electricity. However, after she regained power, between 2011 and 2015, her state government corrected all the discrepancies of previous DMK regime such that the Central Electricity Authority in 2016 said the state is expected to have 11,649 million units of surplus power.[181] Tamil Nadu became among the power surplus states while she was chief minister in this term.[182][183] In this term her government ensured the wrongfully usurped property by land grabbing during 2006 to 2011 in the previous DMK regime, had been retrieved and handed over to rightful owners between 2011 and 2015.[184]

Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari being received by Jayalalithaa at Chennai International Airport

She announced in 2012, the Vision 2023 document which embodied a strategic plan for infrastructure development which included raising the per capita income of residents to $10,000 per annum, matching Human Development Index to that of developed countries by 2023, providing high-quality infrastructure all over the State, making Tamil Nadu the knowledge capital and innovation hub of India. This project had three components – Overall Vision Document, Compilation of Project Profile and Road Map. The work on this continued under her supervision until her death.[185] She inaugurated 'Amma health insurance scheme' in 2012.[186]

Amma Branded Schemes

In February 2013, Jayalalithaa Government inaugurated the

municipal corporations of the state-run canteens serving subsidised food at low prices.[193] which was followed by the plenty of populist schemes such as Amma Kudineer (bottled mineral water),[194] 'Amma' Salt,[195] 'Amma' Medical Shops,[196] and 'Amma' Cement.[197]

In 2015, she also launched 'Amma baby care kit' scheme where every mother who gave birth in the government hospital gets 16 types of products.[198][199]

Verdicts on Tamil Nadu water rows

Jayalalithaa had initiated a case in the Supreme Court to uphold the state's rights on Mullaperiyar Dam issue in 2006. As a result, In May 2014, Supreme court verdict allowed the Tamil Nadu State to increase the storage level in the Mullaperiyar Dam to 142 feet from 136 ft and struck down the unconstitutional law enacted by the Kerala Government in 2006 restricting the storage level to 136 ft.[200] This Supreme Court Verdict sustained the livelihood of the farmers and people in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.[201]

In February 2013, the Union Government notified the final award of

Marina beach in 1993.[202][203][204]

Thevar Outreach

On 9 February 2014, The 13-kg gold armour was donated by then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa for adorning the 3.5-feet-tall statue of

AIADMK party in the southern tamil nadu since its inception.[205] The gold armour is estimated to be worth Rs 4 crore. The armour is kept in a nationalised bank locker in madurai. After AIADMK party treasurer and the trustee of the memorial signing in the bank, The Golden Armour would be taken out and handed over to the incharge of the memorial every year between 28 and 30 October observe Thevar Jayanthi.[206][207][208]

General Secretary of AIADMK

On 29 August 2014, Jayalalithaa was re-elected as the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the 7th Consecutive term, Making her the longest serving general secretary of the party till date. Earlier, She was elected in the years of 1988, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2014.[4]

Disproportionate assets case, 2014

Movable Properties in Disproportionate Assets[209]
Particulars Numbers
Sarees 11,344
Decorated footwears 750
Shawls 250
Dressing tables 9
Wrist watches 91
Suitcases 131
Teapoys 34
Tables 31
Cots 24
Sofa Sets 20
Dressing Mirrors 31
Telephones/Intercoms 33
Wall Clocks 27
Fans 86
Decorated Chairs 146
Hanging Lights 81
Crystal Cut Glasses 215
Refrigerators 12
Television Sets 10
VCRs 8
Video Camera 1
CD Players 4
Audio Decks 2
Two-in-One Tape Recorders 24
Video Cassettes 1,040
Cash 193,202
Jayalalithaa's car Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

Three years into her tenure, she was convicted in a disproportionate-assets case, rendering her disqualified to hold office.

On 27 September 2014, Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years in jail and fined 1 billion (equivalent to 1.6 billion or US$20 million in 2023) by the Special Court in Bengaluru. She was convicted in an 18-year-old disproportionate assets case that was launched by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy (now a member of Bharatiya Janata Party) on 20 August 1996 on the basis of an Income Tax Department report on her. Jayalalithaa's close associate Sasikala, her niece Ilavarasi, her nephew and the chief minister's disowned foster son Sudhakaran were also convicted. They were sentenced to four years in jail and fined 100 million (equivalent to 160 million or US$2.0 million in 2023) each. Special Judge John Michael D'Cunha convicted her to owning assets to the tune of 666.5 million (equivalent to 3.6 billion or US$46 million in 2023) (which includes 2,000 acres (810 ha) of land, 30 kilograms (66 lb) of gold and 12,000 saris) disproportionate to her known sources of income during 1991–96 when she was chief minister for the first time. The verdict was delivered by a makeshift court in the Parappana Agrahara prison complex in the presence of Jayalalithaa and the other accused.

She was automatically disqualified from the post of chief minister and the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu, and thus became the first sitting Indian chief minister to be disqualified.[210] O. Panneerselvam, a minister in her party, succeeded her as the Chief Minister on 29 September 2014.[211] On 17 October 2014, the Supreme Court granted her two months' bail and suspended her sentence.[212] On 18 October 2014, Jayalalithaa returned to Chennai after spending 21 days in Bangalore jail. Despite heavy rain that day, AIADMK cadres assembled outside her residence and welcomed her.[213]

On 11 May 2015, a special Bench of the Karnataka High Court set aside her conviction on appeal. That court acquitted her and the alleged associates—Sasikala, her niece Ilavarasi, her nephew and Jayalalithaa's disowned foster son Sudhakaran.[214]

On 14 February 2017 (subsequent to her death) the Supreme Court of India over-ruled the Karnataka High Court. Sasikala and the other accused were convicted and sentenced to four years of imprisonment, as well as being fined 100 million each. The case against Jayalalithaa was abated because she had died and hence can't defend herself.[215]

Fifth term as Chief Minister, 2015

Jayalalithaa welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi at her residence in 2015.

The acquittal allowed her once again to hold office and on 23 May 2015, Jayalalithaa was sworn in

Radhakrishnan Nagar of North Chennai in the by-election held on 27 June 2015. In a landslide victory, she polled more than 88 per cent votes of the 74.4 per cent turnout, winning by a margin of over 150,000 votes.[218]

In 2015, she introduced Amma Master Health checkup plan where in people could get various treatments done at a low fee in government hospitals and rolled out Amma Arogya plan wherein at primary health care centre in Tamil Nadu, certain tests can be done by public twice a week. This was done to help the sections of society who cannot afford the fares asked for by private hospital.[219] Later in February 2016 she started the free bus ride scheme for senior citizens above age of 60 wherein person could travel free of cost for 10 times a month.[220] Her government initiated Global Investors Summit in 2015 which saw over Rs 2.43 lakh crore worth of investments being committed to the state. Jayalalithaa's term, all of them together, saw some big-ticket investments in the state and over $20 billion FDI.[221] The department of industrial policy and promotion data disclosed that Tamil Nadu saw foreign direct investment inflows of $7.3 billion from April 2000 to March 2011; however, this went up to $13.94 billion from April 2011 to December 2015, under her government, which at as per conversion rate as of 2016 equals Rs 837.66 billion. Between April 2015 and December 2015, the State attracted $4.3 billion in FDI.[222]

In June 2015, Pakistani news channels Samaa TV and Geo News aired a news and applauded Jayalalithaa for her government's scheme which was introduced in 2013, of supplying free rice to mosques during Ramzan and suggested the scheme should be implemented in Pakistan too.[223][224][225] On 20 February 2016, Jayalalithaa led AIADMK Government passed the Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2016, and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Amendment) Act, 2016 in Tamil Nadu Assembly, enhancing the reservation for women from 33 per cent to 50 per cent in local bodies such as corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats in the state.[226][227]

Sixth consecutive term as Chief Minister, 2016

Jayalalithaa with former Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu in foundation stone laying ceremony

In the 2016 assembly election, she became the first Tamil Nadu chief minister since M.G.R. in 1984 to be voted back into power. That September, she fell severely ill and, following 75 days of hospitalisation, died on 5 December 2016 due to cardiac arrest.

On that Election, Jayalalithaa's Campaign Slogan was "I'm of the people, and I'm for the people." (மக்களால் நான், மக்களுக்காகவே நான்.)[228] Jayalalithaa was again elected as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the May 2016 elections. She retained the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency with a margin of 39,545 votes over her DMK rival.[229] She became the first leader in Tamil Nadu to serve consecutive terms as Chief Minister since the death of M.G.R. in 1987.[230] In her victory speech, she commented, "Even when 10 parties allied themselves against me, I did not have a coalition and I placed my faith in God and built an alliance with the people. It is clear that the people have faith in me and I have total faith in the people."[231]

Her government within 100 days of resuming power in May 2016, wrote off the outstanding crop loans given by cooperative banks to over 16.94 lakh farmers, gave free power to households to extent of first 100 units and gave free power to handloom weavers to extent of 200 units, gave 750 units of power to power loom weavers, implemented closure of 500 liquor shops and reduction of working hours of liquor outlets emergence of power surplus states. The establishment of first 1,000 MW nuclear power plant at Kudankulam is also regarded as one of her achievements.[232] She increased the freedom fighters monthly pension to Rs 12,000, family pension and increased special pension to Rs 6,000.[233] On 21 September 2016 she inaugurated two Chennai Metro rail lines by way of video conferencing.[234] This was her last public appearance before being admitted to hospital on 22 September 2016.[235]

Controversies

Personality cult

Followers of Jayalalithaa often worshiped her as a divine being. She stimulated a cult following, and adoring supporters often termed her "

burial ground.[241][242]

1999 Attempted murder case

A case of murder attempt was registered against Jayalalithaa, her close associate Sasikala, and Sasikala's nephew V Mahadevan has been recorded by the Chennai police on following a complaint by former Jayalalithaa's auditor, Rajasekaran, who alleged that he was summoned to the Poes Garden bungalow and violently assaulted by Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and Mahadevan with a stick and high-heeled shoes.[239][243] Rajasekaran also stated that he had been forced by Jayalalithaa and Sasikala to sign two letters and a promissory note in respect of ₹50 lakhs. Jayalalithaa, however, denied the charges in a statement.[244][245]

Corruption cases

1996 colour TV case

In the colour TV corruption case involving the purchase of TV sets to villagers, Jayalalithaa was charged and arrested. The TV sets were provided in the framework of a government education and entertainment plan for the village population. Officials said the TVs were purchased at inflated prices and claimed that some of the money paid for TV stations was returned as kickbacks to government officials.[246] Later, she was acquitted as the accusation against them were not proven beyond doubt.[247]

Detained in 1996, the media reported that 21.28 kg of

designer watches, 750 pairs of shoes, 1,250 kg of silver objects worth 31.2 million, diamonds worth 20 million, a silver sword and 19 vehicles were among the priceless treasures found at her house.[248]

1995 Foster son and luxury wedding corruption

In 1995, Jayalalithaa's friend Sasikala's nephew Sudhakaran was engaged to the youngest daughter of Sivaji Ganesan. Jayalalithaa was a chief minister of state by this time. Jaya declared that Sudhakaran would be adopted as her foster son and said that she would be performing his marriage as his mother.[249][30]

The wedding occupied a 2-km long lighted baraat pathway, ten dining halls each accommodating 25,000 people, and a 75,000 square foot pandal. Tons of plywood, plaster of paris and paint were used to erect cut-outs of Jayalalitha, arches, several hundred papier-mache statues, elaborate facades of palaces and gateways. The VIP invitations included a silver plate enclosed in a container, a silk saree and a silk dhoti, each worth ₹20,000.

1996 general election.[253]

She was later sentenced for 4 years in jail in 2014 for corruption related to the marriage and the Disproportionate assets case.[254]

Jayalalithaa owns a

Guinness Book of World Records for conducting the luxury wedding. The record shows that over 15,000 guests have been invited. The Income-Tax Dept estimated the cost of the wedding at ₹100 million.[255]

Jayalalithaa later disowned Sudhakaran as her foster son.[249]

1998 TANSI land deal case

The TANSI land deal case refers to the purchase of land by Jaya Publications, which included Jayalalithaa and her friend Sasikala, from the State Small Industry Company, Tansi,

O. Panneerselvam as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The Madras High Court acquitted her and other 5 accused in the case of all the charges on 4 December 2001.[256][257]

Disproportionate assets case