Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, one of India’s most respected and charismatic political leader, died last night in Chennai’s Apollo hospital after struggling for more than two months in a battle for life. Indeed she was era of politics which none of the current politicians in Tamil Nadu can fill.  

"It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma at 11.30 p.m.," the hospital said in a statement.

Last day my 4 years son asked me one question, in a very poaitic way

“Dad, If Mama is not there, If chachu is not there, if chooti mama is not there

If Ashwin (himself) is not there

If the so many sky is not there, the trees around is not there, the house, door,

Anything is not there, it is so dark and nothing is there

What you will do”

Looks like this was a reminder to me that nothing in this world is permanent and life will go on and we have to do something, however. Tamil Nadu would take time to recover.

Thousands of people who were outside the Apollo gate, who kept on crying and wailing after this information. It was really sad to witness such event.

Mearly two hours after the announcement of her death, in a swift political transition, her loyalist O Panneerselvam was sworn in as Chief Minister at a sombre ceremony at the Raj Bhawan along with thirty-one ministers were also sworn-in with him.

Panneerselvam took the oath of office and secrecy at around 1 am on Tuesday.

Panneerselvam had stepped into her shoes twice earlier when she was convicted in corruption cases. As Finance Minister, he was given charge of the portfolios held by Jayalalithaa after her admission to Apollo Hospitals on 22 September. A veteran actor, the self-made Jayalalithaa, who was five times Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was admitted to the Apollo hospital on September 22 with fever and dehydration, just four months after she led the AIADMK to triumphantly retain power in assembly elections.

For Panneeselvam it is not easy to fill the shoes, as last time it was different Amma was somewhere around to talk, but now void.

Hospital Statement

@narendramodi Official statement of Apollo Hospital on #jayalalithaa 's death pic.twitter.com/AVlOybb50q

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