Jayalalithaa is dead: Political leaders condole Amma's death

From the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of the states, several political leaders of the country condoled the death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who died on Monday night. [caption id=“attachment_3140796” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Jayalalithaa. PTI[/caption] “One of India’s most charismatic and popular leaders, Ms Jayalalithaa was a visionary and able administrator. Her life was dedicated to the socio-economic transformation of Tamil Nadu and its people. Her contribution to the progress and development of Tamil Nadu will be long remembered,” President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted on Tuesday night offering his condolences. “Popular, strong, bold, efficient, people- friendly, charismatic leader, Amma. Always at the heart of people. Big loss. I am shocked, saddened,” tweeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “I humbly urge the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK to face this big loss with courage and greatness. May she Rest in Peace,” she added. Banerjee also tweeted in Tamil:

Prime Minister Narendra said that he will always cherished his meetings with the late Tamil Nadu leader. “Jayalalithaa ji’s connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalised will always be a source of inspiration,” the Prime Minister tweeted on Tuesday night.

Offering his condolences to her followers, Modi tweeted, “My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief. May the Almighty grant them the strength to bear this irreparable loss with courage and fortitude. Her demise has left a huge void in Indian politics.” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condoled her death. “Death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister very saddening. May she rest in peace. One day state mourning in Bihar.” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to Twitter to condole the death of the AIADMK leader. “Very sad to hear the demise of Amma. A very very popular leader. Aam Aadmi’s leader. May her soul rest in peace,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader tweeted. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s work for the people has been inspiring to him. “Saddened to know about the demise of one of the greatest women leaders… May Her soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu,” he tweeted on Tuesday night." He also said that very few people get the kind of love, affection and support Jayalalithaa got from the people. “She’s one of those few and it is very rare,” he added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also offered his condolences to her followers on Twitter: “Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s passing away is a great loss to the state and it’s people, we stand by them in this hour of grief.” “We lost a great leader today. Women, farmers, fishermen and the marginalised dreamt through her eyes. We will miss Jayalalithaa ji, Amma to millions,” tweeted Congress vice-president, Rahul Gandhi. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje called her a leader of the masses, adding, “I join the Nation in mourning the loss of an icon — a leader of the masses. My heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with bereaved family and followers. She shall be eternally cherished for her service to the people.”

Amit Shah, president, Bharatiya Janata Party also offered his condolences on Twitter. He tweeted:

MK Stalin, treasurer of the rival party, DMK said on Twitter that Jayalalithaa was a courageous leader. He tweeted:

Jayalalithaa died at Apollo hospital on Monday night, a day after she suffered a cardiac arrest. She was 68. She was admitted in hospital since 22 September. (With Agency inputs)