Jayalalithaa bucks tradition

* Jayalalithaa bucked the tradition since 1989 when no party has retained power in Tamil Nadu.

* The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo has cemented her image as a fighter despite challenges that haunted her in the form of corruption cases forcing her to quit twice, only to make a comeback.

* She struggled in her initial days in the party and went on to became its general secretary, a post she has held since 1989.

* She vowed in 1989 not to return to Assembly unless she is the Chief Minister and is now preparing to be sworn-in for the sixth time.

* A multitude of welfare schemes like the Amma canteen- a low cost food chain, Amma water and Amma pharmacies have made her popular.

* Jayalalithaa, who returned as chief minister a year ago after acquittal in disproportionate assets case, emerged unscathed again with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which had won 37 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014, continuing to hold sway in the Assembly election.

* Her victory is extraordinary given the political history of Tamil Nadu that bets often on the “Dravidian” theory, and regales in anti-Brahmin rhetoric.

* Known for her bold decision making, she famously remarked after assuming office as Chief Minister for the second time that “I am a ringmaster” making things work by motivating government officials.

 

* A teen starlet who made her cinema debut in CV Sridhar-directed ‘Vennira Aadai’ (white dress) in 1965 rpt 1965, Jayalalithaa became a popular actress and did 30 films alone with matinee idol MGR who later became her political mentor and in 1982 inducted her into AIADMK which he founded.

* She worked her way up in the party though factional leaders targeted her. She was appointed propaganda secretary in 1983.