The Tamil Nadu state, which witnessed the fiercest electoral battles between M Karunanidhi of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and J Jayalalithaa of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for over three decades, now is going to Assembly polls today for the first time without the two stalwarts of Dravidian politics.
Jayalalithaa died following a cardiac arrest in 2016 and her political rival Karunanidhi passed away in 2018 after prolonged age-related illnesses. In 2019, Tamil Nadu witnessed the Lok Sabha elections in which the DMK-led front had won 37 of the 39 parliamentary seats.
The AIADMK leader had also acted in over 140 movies and was a successful actress of her time. Jayalalitha, or "Amma (mother)", as her supporters call her, joined active politics in 1981 while Karunanidhi entered the state assembly in 1957 and became the chief minister in 1969 after then chief minister and DMK leader CN Annadurai's death. Jayalalithaa became the chief minister six times between 1991 and 2016 albeit with interruptions due to the disproportionate assets case. Whereas, Karunanidhi held the coveted post four times until 2011.
Among the reasons why she inspired a cult following is the launch of various schemes including low-cost canteen, mineral water, pharmacies, free laptops, seeds (for farmers), and gold for marriages, under brand 'Amma' by the AIADMK veteran to safeguard the poor from high prices of necessary articles.
She also attracted huge investments in the state. After 'Amma', AIADMK is now being led by EPS and OPS while Stalin has taken over the reins of the party following Karunanidhi's demise.
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