In her tumultuous political career, J Jayalalithaa has always had one constant quality-steadfastness. Among the prominent women chief ministers and former chief ministers in the country who came to power riding on their own charisma such as Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee, Jayalalithaa has a singularity. She is unburdened by an ideology that is neither casteist nor parochial like her political sisters. Instead, as she challenges the UPA on the Sri Lankan issue, which is being transformed into a national debate in Parliament from mere protest politics in her state, the transformation from the undisputed Joan of Arc of Tamil Nadu to a national challenger is becoming complete. Amma knows that successful political strategy depends on timing-and when she opened her guns on the beleaguered Congress-led Union government on India's diplomatic relationship with its southern neighbour and its refusal to internationally oppose the Sri Lankan government that is widely accused of war crimes, she reduced her bête noire and UPA ally, the DMK, to a weak and opportunistic champion of Tamil rights. There is no doubt that in Jayalalithaa's present incarnation as chief minister, her political theatre not only goes beyond Fort St. George, but also encompasses the vistas of national politics where alliances are being forged and dismantled in preparation for the 2014 General Elections. Jayalalithaa's political acumen is apparent in the way she is consolidating her base in the state where she has come to power the third time in May 2011. Gone are the blatant signs of sycophancy that typified Tamil Nadu politics-she has chided partymen for being obsequious on many occasions and asked them to carry on with administrative and legislative business-and the motto is simply development. The slew of welfare schemes the AIADMK government has launched for all sections worth `30,331 crore during the year 2012-13 is reaffirming her status as a politician committed to development. Whether it is the Sri Lankan issue, the Cauvery crisis or handling the major power shortage over which she has been at odds with the Centre, Amma has acquired the mojo of being the Tamil champion fighting an anti-Tamil Central Government. Meanwhile, the DMK is perceived as a weak UPA ally that can't protect the state's interests while its house-politically, literally and domestically-is in disarray.
Jayalalithaa's next big moment is the Parliamentary elections. She is working towards the AIADMK winning all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in 2014. If this happens, she will become a formidable force in Delhi and will clearly have a strong say in the next government formation. Her meeting venues in the myriad towns and cities in the state are already festooned with banners, hailing her as the 'future prime minister'.
On her part, Jayalalithaa has always opposed any form of stagnation. Recalling an incident, former state election commissioner K Malaisamy, who subsequently went on to become an AIADMK MP, said in an interview to a television channel about a specific occasion when he found himself stuck, unable to move further, when Jayalalithaa told him: "Mr Malaisamy, if this can't be done in this way, it can be done in some other way. Don't stagnate. Move further..."
Jayalalithaa-watchers have always been impressed about her meticulous precision of thought and action-be it in her film career or later, in public life. Even when writing down her comments after inaugurating a new institution, she would ensure that not one word is rewritten.
An uphill legacy: This obstinacy against yielding to roadblocks has remade Jayalalithaa's image as a firm decision-maker. When she took over the reins at Fort St. George, it was not an easy road ahead. She inherited a weak economy, a demoralised police force and rampant lawlessness-especially land grabbing and liquor contracts cornered by DMK satraps. Her first priority was to put the state economy on track; the next was to tackle the power shortage-both were legacies left behind by the DMK regime. In her first year as CM, cyclone Thane devastated the coastal district of Cuddalore. The damage was worse than during the 2004 tsunami. The Centre refused to help. A source in New Delhi says it was then that she first realised the need for her party to wield influence at the Centre.
Subsequently, when she called for her party cadre, rather early, to gear up for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it took the Centre by surprise. Addressing the party's general council meeting on December 30, 2011, Jayalalithaa confidently said the AIADMK would be part of the next government at the Centre and exhorted the party to prepare for the Lok Sabha elections right from that day. "We still have the responsibility of realising many more golden eras in politics. If we complete them perfectly, we'll be the deciding force. At that time, without causing any harm to the sovereignty of the country, we can facilitate an atmosphere wherein decisions to ensure the rights of Tamil Nadu can be taken without any loss to the state."
At odds with Delhi: The atmosphere in Tamil Nadu, at least, is vehemently pro-Amma. After a long spell of the DMK being an ally of both the NDA and UPA for over 14 years, Tamil Nadu has never had an opposition champion willing to challenge the Central Government. Ironically, the only time the DMK had turned against the Congress was when its own ministers had to be jailed or had to resign on corruption charges: the peak of the freeze came when Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi went to Tihar Jail for her involvement in the 2G scam. The Maran telephone scandal and his alleged role in the spectrum scam further damaged the DMK's image. After coming to power, Jayalalithaa increased her tempo of taking on the Centre with regard to the issues emotive to Tamil Nadu. But the manner of defiance she has chosen to champion Tamil regionalism has been as a national leader, like her stringent and continuous opposition to the formation of National Centre for Counter Terrorism (NCTC). Since the AIADMK government assumed charge in May 2011, Jayalalithaa has written over 80 letters to the prime minister. In 2012 alone, on many issues, she has written over 50 letters to PM-an average of four letters per month.
"For all the letters I write to the prime minister on various issues, I just get a formal reply-'received your letter'-from the PMO and nothing more than that," the chief minister said, and observed that the Centre kept mum on her demand for convening the meeting of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee. After the Tamil Nadu Government moved the Supreme Court on January 17, 2013, to her credit some volume of water was received from Karnataka.
The carrots and sticks that the Centre has been offering Tamil Nadu Government in exchange for support on many bills in the House have boomeranged: its refusal to re-allocate the power surrendered by the Delhi Government to Tamil Nadu has only made Tamil voters more hostile. The state had to approach the Supreme Court eventually in this regard. Jayalalithaa has accused the Centre of taking a 'negative approach' on the Mullaiperiyar issue towards Tamil Nadu. "I will not be cowed down by the stumbling blocks put forth by the Centre. I have taken a vow to accomplish the needs of Tamil Nadu overcoming the problems created by the Centre," she said.
The important issues Tamil Nadu has taken up with the prime minister are the Cauvery water dispute, NCTC, power, fishermen issue, training to Lankan defence personnel, Common Entrance Test to medical courses and kerosene allocation. But there has been little response.
Tamil Champion: The response from Tamils, however, on Jayalalithaa's stand on Sri Lanka has boosted her standing further. Her refusal to host the 20th Asian Athletics Championships in Chennai in July 2013, if athletes from the island nation were to participate, saw her appropriating the Tamil cause that was hitherto espoused by fringe groups. "The participation of Sri Lankan athletes in the 20th Asian Athletics Championships that were scheduled to be held in Chennai in July would have hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu. So, the Tamil Nadu Government, through its chief secretary, had communicated to the general secretary of the Asian Athletics Association in Singapore that Sri Lanka be barred from taking part in the games," read her statement.
On the issue, Jayalalithaa has been unequivocal in demanding status for Lankan Tamils on par with their Sinhala counterparts. She had moved a resolution in the Assembly urging the Centre to impose an economic embargo on the island nation, until the Lankan government ensured equal status to Lankan Tamils and resettled the internally displaced Tamils. When the Centre attempted to train the Lankan soldiers at Tambaram and then at Ooty, she asked the Centre to send them back. She also opposed their training in any other place in India. Jayalalithaa has strongly condemned the killing of Balachandran, son of late LTTE chief V Prabhakaran, "as an unpardonable crime", to strengthen her demand to impose an economic embargo on Sri Lanka.
The reformer: While opposing the Centre tooth and nail on all 'anti-state policies' introduced by the UPA, she has been concentrating on implementing the welfare measures in Tamil Nadu. For the first time in the history of the state, she had created a separate department for ensuring foolproof implementation of all her electoral promises.
On February 8, 2013, she announced in the state Assembly: "I made 177 promises during my campaign for 2011 Assembly elections. During the past 20 months, 140 promises have been fulfilled while initial works are on for 21, and 16 are under the consideration of the government." Officials say the chief minister diligently monitors the fulfillment of AIADMK's poll promises. She convened a conference of the district collectors and police officers twice. In the first meeting, she rolled out a mini budget of sorts with 77 announcements at the grassroots level. In her second meeting, Jayalalithaa made history by announcing an unprecedented 343 ground-level schemes, with the intention of laying a strong foundation to make Tamil Nadu a model welfare state. And she wants to reap the benefits for the AIADMK. "There will be no truck with either national parties, the Congress or the BJP, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections since both have been betraying Tamil Nadu on the lifeline issue of the state: the Cauvery water dispute." The BJP government in Karnataka has been opposing the Centre's directions to release water to Tamil Nadu, creating a hostile situation in the state. Irrespective of her political and personal equation with Narendra Modi-she was one of the chief ministers to attend the Gujarat CM's swearing-in-she knows that the BJP is a non-entity in her state. The Congress has been decimated long ago, and it was merely its alliance with the DMK that had given it a few MPs from Tamil Nadu in the last General Elections.
Jayalalithaa's reform measures demonstrate her keen understanding of public issues. Until she came to power for the third time, people had to approach government offices for various services. She decided to reverse the process by declaring that the objective of her government would be to "provide services to the people at their doorstep". On May 15, 2012, she announced the introduction of an 'Online Demonstrative Services Directory' on the state government's website which held all information regarding the services offered by various departments. The chief minister has also ordered that information technology should be used in all departments for all practical purposes. She announced e-governance awards for government departments. To create awareness on e-governance among the youth, students and e-governance enthusiasts, a yearly competition for development of innovative e-governance software was announced for the "Chief Minister's Award for Excellence in e-Governance".
Besides, the government would also develop a Scheme Monitoring Application Software to help the officials in monitoring the progress of the schemes. On June 20, 2012, the chief minister launched the Electronic Project, Administration, Traffic, Highway Assets and Information Management System (e-Pathai) for the efficient maintenance of the 62,017 km of roads under the State Highways Department. Using this, the general public too can access details on infra-projects of the highways department. To avoid heavy rush for employment exchange registration, Jayalalithaa ordered that students can register virtually from their schools within 15 days from the day of issue of marksheets, and get their employment office registration card and seniority immediately. Around 12 lakh students were benefited through this initiative in 2011.
The welfare schemes rolled out by Jayalalithaa has clearly shown that she has laid a firm charter for her party's growth in the state that would enable her to climb the national ladder. Amma has changed the national political equations: it's no longer AIADMK vs DMK. It's now AIADMK vs UPA.
The road ahead: Her strategy is paying off. After winning 150 seats of 234 in the 2011 state polls, the AIADMK swept the local body elections held in May 2011. Of the 20,000 posts, the ruling party bagged over 9,600 institutions, including 10 corporations, 89 municipalities and 285 town panchayats. In 2006, the AIADMK could not win even a single municipal corporation poll. Moreover, for the first time in its electoral history, the party won the mayoral election for the important Chennai Corporation on October 17, 2011. It also emerged as the party which secured largest percentage of votes-over 39 per cent.
The wheels of the Jayalalithaa juggernaut have started to raise dust on the roads of Tamil Nadu. The political GPS, meanwhile, shows that its ultimate destination is Delhi. With a newly minted national image as a development-oriented, reformist politician, Amma stands to be a force to reckon with at the Centre, irrespective of who wins Indraprastha next year.
A welfare state
20 Kg Free rice scheme
Launched on June 1, 2011.
Distribution of 20 kg rice free of cost to all family card-holders (1.83 crore) and 35 kg free rice to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana card-holders (poorest of the poor) through PDS. As a special scheme, the state government is also supplying tur dal, urad dal, palm oil and fortified atta at subsidised rates.
Budget: Rs 4,900 crore for 2012-2013
Distribution of laptops to class XI and XII students Launched on September 15, 2011.
Under this scheme, free laptops are being distributed to all college students and class XII students of government and government-aided institutions.
Budget: Rs 912 crore for 2011-12, targeting 9.07 lakh students. For 2012-13, Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated that will benefit 7.84 lakh students.
Distribution of Mixer-grinders and Fans to family card holders
Launched on September 15, 2011
Distribution of fans, mixer-grinders to 1.83 crore families to improve the standard of living of the poor women. During 2012-13, 35 lakh women would be covered. During 2011-12, 25 lakh households were covered.
Budget: Rs 2,000 crore for 2012-13
Free Distribution of goats/sheep
Launched on September 15, 2011
Four goats/sheep are to be given free of cost to seven lakh poorest of poor families over a period of five years. During 2012-13, four goats/sheep each will be distributed to another 1.5 lakh poor women.
Budget: Rs 244 crore for 2012-2013
Milch cows scheme
Announced on September 15, 2011
In order to usher in another 'White Revolution' in Tamil Nadu, the government would distribute free milch cows to 60,000 beneficiaries over a period of five years.
Budget: Rs 244 crore for 2012-13.
Distribution of four grams gold for Thirumangalya (Mangalasutra)
Launched on June 6, 2011
Rs 25,000 and 22-kt four grams gold to be given to needy girls. If the girl is a degree- or diploma-holder, she'll be given Rs 50,000. Budget: Rs 350 crore for 2012-13
Jayalalithaa Vs Centre
"Perhaps, the Central government, which is in the grip of the problems posed by the alliance parties almost on a daily basis, has no time to turn its attention towards issues of people like this The Central Government which is suffering from policy paralysis is unable to look at the lifeline issue of the people of Tamil Nadu-the Cauvery water dispute."
"The deliberate non-issuance of DAS licence to the state government-owned Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation is only to facilitate the business interests of a particular family which forms part of the ruling coalition at the Centre. This vindictive and discriminative act of the Government of India is highly condemnable and is yet another example of subverting the interest of the common people and the ruling dispensation's perpetual pandering to allies to ensure the survival of the Central Government."
"Predatory tendencies poaching on the powers and resources of the states notwithstanding, solutions available with the Government of India are wilfully withheld. The federal nature of our existence demands that the Government of India discharge its obligations to the states."
"For all the letters I write to the Prime Minister on various issues, I just get a formal reply-'received your letter'-from the PMO and nothing more than that." (Jayalalithaa observed that the Centre kept mum on her demand for convening the meeting of the Cauvery Monitoring Committee. After the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court, some volume of water could be received from Karnataka, that too after a long struggle.)
* Opposed the National Commission for Human Resources for Health (NCHRH) Bill, which has been referred to the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare by the Rajya Sabha. "The NCHRH Bill usurps the power of the states in the critical area of health human resources by creating new structures which hit at the very root of federalism," the chief minister said in her letter to the Prime Minister.
* Opposed the setting up of National Centre for Counter Terrorism and wrote many letters to the Prime Minister, and succeeded in organising a separate session on the issue in New Delhi.
* Opposed the Centre's move to do away with Government Railway Police of state governments which serve as the link between the Railway Protection Force and the district police.
* Attacked the Centre on implementing the General Sales Tax stating that it would interfere with the fiscal autonomy of the states. Besides, she dashed letters to all non-Congress chief ministers asking them to take up the matter with the Centre in a coordinated manner.
* Waged a war against the Centre for keeping silent on her demand for notifying the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal given on February 5, 2007. Ultimately, the Centre had to bow to the order of the Supreme Court and notify the award on February 19, 2013.
* Slammed the Central government for imparting training to Lankan defence personnel at Tambaram air base and at Wellington, showing scant regard for the views of her government as well as the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu. She requested the Prime Minister to instruct the defence ministry to halt the training and arrange to send the personnel back to Lanka immediately.
* Accused the Centre of penalising the people of Tamil Nadu for electing the AIADMK to power with regard to the reduction of allocation of kerosene for the state.
* Took on the Centre for pursuing dual pricing policy for diesel which severely affected the State Public Transport Corporations.
Making of the Jayalalithaa juggernaut
February 24, 1948: Born
1965: Makes her film debut with Vennira Aadai. Acted in many films with leading stars, including MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. Her last film was Nathiyai Thedi Vanda Kadal in 1978.
1982: Enters politics under the guidance of MGR and becomes a member of the AIADMK.
1984: Elected as Rajya Sabha member; retains the seat until she's elected to the Tamil Nadu
Legislative Assembly in 1989.
1989: After the demise of MGR in 1987, the AIADMK splits into two. As the general secretary of the party, she contests the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1989 and is elected from Bodinayakkanur; becomes the first woman Leader of the
Opposition in the state Assembly.
February 1989: The two factions of the AIADMK reunite under her leadership and she is elected to the post of the General Secretary of the unified AIADMK. Restores the 'Two Leaves' election symbol of the AIADMK party.
1991: Wins spectacularly by contesting in both Bargur and Kangeyam constituencies during the Assembly elections and becomes the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
1996: AIADMK defeated in the Assembly elections.
2001: Becomes the Tamil Nadu CM for the second term.
2006: AIADMK defeated in the Assembly elections; Jayalalithaa becomes the Leader of Opposition
May 16, 2011: Takes over as CM for the third time. Announces seven welfare schemes which were electoral promises made by her during the campaign for 2011 Assembly elections.
October 24, 2011: Leads the AIADMK to a massive victory in the local body polls. Captures all 10 corporations in the state.
May 17, 2012: Proposes PA Sangma's name for the office of the President at a time when major national parties were caught in confusion over selection of candidates. Ultimately, the BJP supports Sangma.
December 27, 2012: Walks out of National Development Council meeting stating that she was slighted at the conference by cutting short her speech.
February 19, 2013: Following a pitched legal battle waged by Jayalalithaa, Centre notifies the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, making Karnataka legally binding to release water to Tamil Nadu. Calls it a red-lettered day in her life.
The General Secretary of the AIADMK and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms Jayalalithaa today announced V R Karthik Thondaiman as the party's candidate to contest the Pudukottai assembly bye election.
In a statement today, Ms Jayalalithaa announced that as decided by the Party's governing council, Pudukottai District MGR Youth Wing President and Pudukottai Municipal Chairman V R Karthik Thondaiman would be the AIADMK candidate for the by election to the Pudukottai assembly constituency.
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Sunday, 19 May 2013
04 April 2013 " As part of her efforts to meet the growing demand for housing projects in urban areas, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms Jayalalithaa today announced a satellite township on the outskirts of Madurai at a cost of 120 crore rupees and proposed to build 4,454 houses in several other districts. "
Making a suo motu statement in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the township would be created some 15 kms away from Madurai along the Madurai-Tirunelveli highway near the airport. The township would be created over 586.86 acres presently owned by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board in Thoppur-Uchappatti, she said. The township would have 19,500 plots to be developed at a cost of 120 crore rupees with basic amenities like drinking water, roads, drainage system, street light, rain water harvesting facilities and parks. Of this, 14,300, 2,500, 750 and 1,950 plots would be alloted to low, middle, high income groups and economically weaker sections respectively, she said. The township would be complete with schools, commercial complexes, police station, post office, primary health centre, fire station and upgraded industrial houses funded by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, she added.
The Chief Minister also announced that 1,500 flats would be built at Sholinganallur in Chennai, using 'pre-fab technology' at a cost of 612 crore rupees. The 10-storeyed buildings would have separate apartments for low, middle and higher income groups.
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In addition, another 4,454 housing units, including 1,630 independent houses, 2,792 flats and 32 upgraded houses would be developed in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Erode, Krishnagiri, Salem, Virudhunagar, Dindigul and Tiruchirapalli districts at a cost of 918.45 crore rupees under the self-financing scheme, she said. Of this, 844 multi-storeyed flats would be built at a cost of 371 crore rupees in Chennai and seven surrounding localities. In Coimbatore district, a total of 344 multi-storeyed flats would be built at a cost of 50.16 crore rupees. The construction of 4,454 units would be taken up this year and completed within 24 months. Ms Jayalalithaa also said that her government has decided to demolish old and structurally weak flats and houses built by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and replace them with new ones. In the first phase, 3,500 flats would be demolished in
Chennai and other districts and new ones would be built in 2013-14 at a cost of 280 crore rupees, she said.
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