The state of Tamil Nadu plunged into sorrow after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa died last night (5 December) at a Chennai hospital. She did not respond to emergency life support treatment administered after she suffered a cardiac arrest a day earlier.
She was 68. State government has announced seven days of mourning period and three days holiday for schools and colleges across the state.
74 days after being admitted to Apollo Hospital, the general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam passed away at 11.30 p.m. last night. She did not respond to emergency life support treatment administered after she suffered a cardiac arrest a day earlier. She was 68.
Late in the night, her body was being taken to ‘Veda Nilayam’, her residence in Poes Garden in the heart of Chennai. Officials said her mortal remains would be kept in state at the historic Rajaji Hall today to enable the public to pay homage.
An hour before the announcement about her death was made, the police strength outside the Apollo Hospitals was increased and the route from the hospital to her residence was cleared for traffic. Security personnel took position outside in good measure.
Around midnight Sasikala Natarajan, her trusted aide of over 30 years, who was by her side since the time Jayalalithaa was admitted on September 22, left the Apollo Hospitals for Poes Garden.
Her health was never a matter of concern nor a public issue in Tamil Nadu until her imprisonment in September 2014 in a disproportionate assets case in which she was acquitted less than eight months later.
According to her associates, it was her imprisonment (in 2014) that derailed her health. She refused to meet doctors in prison, refused to share her medical prescriptions until some senior leaders and bureaucrats managed to persuade her. Her health declined rapidly after her release from jail in Karnataka.
She kept herself away from key responsibilities after being sworn in as Chief Minister. Trusted aides, including former Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan ran the show
