Chennai: J. Jayalalithaa's journey from a film star to four-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was meteoric.
Emerging from the shadows of her mother Sandhya, Jayalalithaa began her career in films at a young age of 16 and rubbed shoulders with legends like M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. Her mentor in films and politics, MGR, thrust her into politics and she took the mantle on his behalf after his demise in 1987. Here is the timeline of Jayalalithaa’s spectacular journey.
1948: February 24:
J. Jayalalithaa was born in Mandya, Mysuru state, to Jayaram and Sandhya
1961: J. Jayalalithaa’s first English movie, Epistle, produced by Shankar Giri, son of former president of India VV Giri, releases
1965: Jayalalithaa enters the Tamil film industry as lead actress through the film Vennira Aadai.
She meets M. G. Ramachandran on the sets of Aayirathil Oruvan; they went on to become one of the most loved on-screen pair of recent times
1980: J. Jayalalithaa’s last film ‘Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal’ released in Tamil
1982: J. Jayalalithaa takes a plunge in politics, joins the AIADMK headed by her
mentor M. G. Ramachandran. She makes her maiden political speech titled ‘Pennin Perumai’ (Greatness of a Woman)
1983: J. Jayalalithaa appointed propaganda secretary of AIADMK
1984: Jayalalithaa elected to Rajya Sabha
She takes over campaign of AIADMK in the absence of her mentor MGR, who was recuperating at a US hospital
1987: December 24: MGR dies; Jayalalithaa not allowed being part of the last
procession of her mentor
1988: AIADMK splits; Jayalalithaa becomes leader of one faction, while MGR’s widow Janaki made leader of another faction
1989: January 27: Jayalalithaa successfully contests her maiden Assembly election from Bodinayyakanur constituency in Southern Tamil Nadu
February 9: Jayalalithaa scripts history by becoming the first woman Opposition leader of Tamil Nadu Assembly
February: Two factions of AIADMK merge into one; Jayalalithaa elected general secretary of unified AIADMK
March 25: Jayalalithaa attacked inside the Assembly by ruling DMK members; she leaves the Assembly declaring “I will enter the House next time only as a Chief Minister.”
1991: April: AIADMK clinches an alliance with Congress to contest the upcoming Assembly and Parliament elections
May 21: Rajiv Gandhi assassinated in Sriperumbudur near Chennai
June 24: Jayalalithaa sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; becomes only the second woman to hold the post after MGR’s widow Janaki
1996: May 12: Jayalalithaa resigns as Chief Minister following her party’s defeat; she also lost the Assembly polls from Bargur
July 11: Then Janata Party leader Dr Subramanian Swamy files private complaint in a court accusing Jayalalithaa of amassing wealth worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income during 1991 to 1996.
Dec 7: Jayalalithaa arrested on charges of corruption, including accumulation of
disproportionate assets.
1998: February: Jayalalithaa aligns with BJP for Parliament polls; wins majority of seats in the state
March 19: AIADMK joins the NDA Government led by BJP
1999: April 14: Jayalalithaa withdraws support to BJP-led NDA at the Centre; tries to prop up a government led by Sonia Gandhi of Congress but fails
April 17: NDA Government led by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee falls.
2000: October 9: A lower court sentences Jayalalithaa to two-year rigorous
imprisonment and imposed a fine of '50,000.
2001: March 9: Jayalalithaa aligns with G K Moopanar’s TMC for the Assembly polls
April 25: Jayalalithaa’s nomination papers rejected due to her conviction in Tansi case.
May 13: Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK sweeps the Assembly polls.
May 14: Jayalalithaa sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for second time.
Sept 21: Supreme Court says J Jayalalithaa cannot continue as CM unless she is cleared of corruption charges; J Jayalalithaa resigns.
Sept 21: J Jayalalithaa’s confidante O Pannerselvam sworn-in as Chief Minister
December 4: Jayalalithaa acquitted in Pleasant Stay and Tansi cases; clears way for her becoming the Chief Minister again.
2002: February 24: Jayalalithaa wins by-election from Andipatti Assembly
constituency.
March 2: J Jayalalithaa sworn-in as Tamil Nadu CM for third time
2006: May 12: Jayalalithaa resigns as Tamil Nadu CM after her party’s defeat in the Assembly Polls.
2011: May 16: J. Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK wins the Assembly elections; she was sworn in as Tamil Nadu for a third term.
2014: August 28: Special court reserves judgment.
Sept 27: The special court holds Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption, awards four years jail term to each, slaps '100 crore fine on her, '10 crore each on three other accused. Jayalalithaa unseated as Chief Minister after she attracts disqualification as an MLA due to the conviction.
Sept 28: O. Pannerselvam sworn-in as Chief Minister
Oct 18: Jayalalithaa released from Bengaluru jail.
2015: May 11: Karnataka high court acquits Jayalalithaa in disproportionate assets case
May 23: Jayalalithaa returns as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
2016: May 19: AIADMK returns to power; Jayalalithaa scripts yet another history by leading her party to a consecutive win after her political mentor MGR
May 23: Jayalalithaa sworn-in as Chief Minister for a fourth term
Sept 22: Jayalalithaa admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dec 4: Jayalalithaa suffers cardiac arrest
Dec 5: Jayalalithaa passes away at Apollo Hospitals
