Tamil Nadu election results have given a second term to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. (AFP photo)
In winning Tamil Nadu for a second straight term,
J Jayalalithaa not only bucked the three-decade-old trend of yo yo politics in the state, but also proved wrong her detractors and exit polls that wrote her off.
She mentioned the history-making feat when she spoke after it was clear that her AIADMK had won. "After 1984 no ruling party in the state has been able to win the elections and form government a second successive time. So we are indebted to the people of Tamil Nadu for giving us this tremendous victory," she said.
The
68-year-old AIADMK chief, known in her party as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader), also said, "I have no other interest in life except working for the people of Tamil Nadu."
AIADMK supporters celebrate the party's victory in Tamil Nadu's assembly elections today.
having fought corruption charges that saw her go prison and forced her to quit as Chief Minister. Exonerated by a higher court, Ms Jayalalithaa returned as chief minister months after she was jailed.
Fondly called Amma by her supporters and fans, Ms Jayalalithaa has known struggle since her earliest days in politics. Though the legendary MG Ramachandran (MGR) was her mentor, she had to fight to become the party's general secretary, a post she has held since 1989.
In 2001 when she was first forced to quit because of a conviction in the Tank case she had vowed not to return to the state Assembly unless she did so as Chief Minister. This will be the sixth time that Ms Jayalalithaa will take oath as Chief Minister.
A party cadre prostrates himself at the feet of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa as she gestures at her residence in Chennai on May 19, 2016.
It was a fairly close contest - Ms Jayalalithaa has won fewer seats than she had in 2011 and the difference of vote share between the AIADMK and the DMK-Congress is only 1.4 per cent. The win is being attributed to social welfare schemes of the Jayalalithaa government and her canny wooing of women voters with freebies like mixer grinders.
She offered voters four grams of gold each for a "mangalsutra," worn around the neck by married women, and promised to make it eight grams if she returned to power. She also promised free mobile phones for all ration card holders.
Her detractors allege that even her welfare schemes - all named "Amma" - are coated in megalomania. They also accuse the reclusive chief minister of being "inaccessible" and "authoritarian."