The passing of Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, leaves a void in the State's politics. A political leader since the 1980s, the Chief Minister who was elected to power for four terms and played a critical role in national politics, will be remembered for her charisma and firmness in handling political issues.
Her achievements as Chief Minister include the introduction of All Women Police Stations, the Cradle Baby Scheme, making rainwater harvesting mandatory, and the opening of Amma Canteens that provide cooked food at subsidised rates. Her significant political achievement was to expand upon the legacy of the founder of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and late Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, as a popular leader committed to welfare and upholding the rights of States in a federal framework.
Text and compilation: Saptarshi Bhattacharya and P.V. Lakshmi Narasimhan