J Jayalalithaa, one of India’s most popular politicians, died late on Monday after three months in hospital. Her body, in a casket draped in the national flag, is at the city’s Rajaji Hall, where lakhs are streaming in to pay tribute to their beloved “Amma”.
A day of national mourning has been declared and all flags will fly at half-mast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of political leaders are heading to Chennai to pay homage to the four-time Chief Minister.
The 68-year-old former film star died at the Apollo hospital, where she was admitted on September 22 for a lung ailment. Her body was taken to her Poes Garden home, where a huge crowd of grieving supporters cried “Amma, Amma”.
Images showed men and women weeping after the death was confirmed by the hospital and the ruling AIADMK.
Violence erupted outside her home as many from the thousands of her supporters tried to break through the police barricades.
Jayas funeral will take place at Chennai’s Marina Beach at 4.30 pm, close to the memorial of her mentor MG Ramachandran or MGR, her former co-star in films.
Jayalalithaa’s most trusted aide, Finance Minister O Panneerselvam took oath as Chief Minister a little after 1 am on Monday, keeping her on the dais.
Mr Panneerselvam, a staunch Jayalalithaa loyalist, had earlier stood in twice as chief minister when she had to step down. After Ms Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital in September, he was given charge of the eight ministries she personally supervised and he also chaired cabinet meetings, always keeping her photo by his side.
Tamil Nadu has declared seven-day mourning. Schools and colleges will be closed for three days.Several other states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Bihar have declared a day’s mourning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders expressed grief at Ms Jayalalithaa’s death. “Deeply saddened at the passing away of Selvi Jayalalithaa. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics,” PM Modi tweeted.
Security across the state has been reviewed as a precaution against violent or self-harming protests by lakhs of supporters of Jayalalithaa, who enjoyed God-like status in the state. After local television channels wrongly reported Ms Jayalalithaa’s death on Monday evening, violence erupted at the hospital.
The AIADMK had briefly lowered its flag to half-mast at its headquarters, then hoisted it again after the hospital said the local channels’ reports were “totally baseless and false.”
