Happy Birthday Jayalalithaa: Journey From Actress To Star Politician

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Happy Birthday Jayalalithaa: Journey From Actress To Star Politician

On Jayalalithaa’s birthday let’s take a look at the long and impressive career of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa Jayaram was born on the 24th of February 1948. Famously known as Amma, Jayalalithaa went from ruling a glamorous industry to a much more powerful field.

Her mother introduced her to the film industry and soon she starred in over 140 films. While in school Amma acted in her first film titled Vennira Aadai in 1965. She continued to study but due to financial problems she quit school and took up acting full time.

Jayalalithaa’s film career soon introduced her to the political world. Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran popularly known as MGR was an iconic Tamil actor and politician. MGR and Amma worked on over 20 films together. MGR founded AIADMK in 1972, this party Amma went on to lead in her political career. MGR also served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 to 1987.

MGR saw political potential in Amma and mentored her. Amma was heavily influenced and joined the AIADMK in 1982. But many may be surprised to know Amma was not fond of both her successful careers in an exclusive interview with The Hindu Amma said she hated acting and politics. In the interview, Amma said, “I hate cinema, but my mother forced me into films; I hate politics, but MGR forced me into politics. Still I hate politics.”

Amma quickly scaled up the political ladder and within the first two years bagged a seat in the Rajya Sabha. In later 1987, MGR passed away causing the AIADMK party to split into two factions. One led by Jayalalithaa and the second headed by MGR’s wife Janaki Ramachandran. Soon the issue was resolved and the party rejoined with Amma as their leader.

AIADMK faced a bitter rival in the political party DMK. Finally in 1991, Amma’s party won the State Assembly Elections with overwhelming support. She began her first term as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with a coalition with the Congress party. Her first tenure was filled with allegations of corruption and misappropriation of official State funds.

In 1996, Amma lost the State Assembly Elections with the DMK Government voted back in power. The DMK took this opportunity and filed more than 40 cases of corruption against Amma from 1996 to 2001. Amma served jail time for a month in 1996 after the authorities raided her residence to find large quantities of jewelry.
For in a change in partnership, Jayalalithaa made a coalition with BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA.) Amma hoped to influence the NDA to dismiss the DMK Government. But Amma failed and decided to withdraw from the coalition in 1999.

Again in 2001 AIADMK came back to power but Amma was barred from returning to her post due to a pending court case. Once Amma was acquitted of all the charges she took her seat as Chief Minister in 2002 for the second time.

Her second tenure was less controversial than the first. Amma made a number of administrative measures for the betterment of Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK Government initiated banning the sale of lottery tickets in the State. It was successfully restricted the sale of tobacco products in and around educational institutions. Under Jayalalithaa’s leadership, the State authorities hunted down the notorious bandit and smuggler Veerappan in 2004.

In 2004 Amma returned to siding with the NDA in the National Parliamentary Elections. But it was a disastrous defeat as AIADMK lost every seat it contested for in the Lok Sabha.

The AIADMK lost the 2006 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections but picked up the pace in 2009. Jayalalitha managed to win her seat back in the Lok Sabha during this time. This led to her third tenure as Chief Minister in 2011.

But the corruption cases continued to haunt Amma and soon she was convicted in the cases. She received a sentence of four years in prison. This forced her to relinquish her title to O. Pannerselvam who served as CM in 2001 when Amma was held back from taking the CM’s seat.

Yet again Jayalalitha was acquitted of the charges and after 21 days in prison returning to the free world. In 2015, she was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu again. She served the last year of her third term. Breaking records Amma was elected as Chief Minister for the fourth time in the 2016 elections.

After winning for the fourth time Amma proudly said, “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.”

Unfortunately, Amma could not serve her complete tenure due to her deteriorating health. Jayalalithaa lost her life after a cardiac arrest in a hospital in December 2016.

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