Tributes continue to pour in for Jaya

Tributes continued to pour in for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with DMK chief M Karunanidhi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar among others condoling her death.

Chennai, Dec 6: Tributes continued to pour in for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with DMK chief M Karunanidhi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar among others condoling her death.

Expressing condolences, Karunanidhi said Jayalalithaa had passed away amid expectations that she will return home after receiving medical care from renowned specialists.

There may have been many differences of opinion between DMK and AIADMK but there can be no doubts she "bravely" worked for her partymen's welfare, he said in a statement.

"Although she might have died at a young age (68), there is no doubt that her fame will remain forever," he said. Recalling Jayalalithaa's film career, Karunanidhi said she had paired with matinee idol MG Ramachandran who later groomed her in politics after founding AIADMK.

Expressing grief over Jayalalithaa's death, Parikkar said in a Twitter post: "I express my condolences on the passing away of TN CM J Jayalalithaa. I pray for strength to the people of Tamil Nadu at this sad hour."

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said Jayalalithaa had created 'Brand Amma,' politics of catering to the poor. She had "created Brand Amma, a different kind of pro-poor politics. My heartfelt condolences," he said.

In her twitter message, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi said Jayalalithaa was a "very brave woman who lived several lives within one life completely on her own terms. Amma will live beyond hers."

"Amma has moved over from time to eternity by the courage and determination with which she lived life on her own terms," she said. TNCC President Su Thirunavukkarasar also paid rich tributes to Jayalalithaa.

A former associate of the late leader in his days in AIADMK, Thirunavukkarasar said Jayalalithaa enjoyed the love and affection of woman folk. DMDK founder Vijayakant, Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram and AINRC MP from Puducherry R Radhakrishnan also condoled the death.

Expressing shock, popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar said: "She had fought many battles and stood tall among the leaders of our times," he said.

PTI