Jayalalithaa was both praised and criticised for her 'uncompromising' style: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram today paid tribute to late chief minister Jayalalithaa who passed away on Monday night, saying that that she was both praised and criticised for her "hard, uncompromising style" to politics and governance.

"She brought a hard uncompromising style to politics and governance that won praise and criticism. Tamil Nadu was regarded as among the better governed States. AIADMK must carry on and provide a government for remaining over 4 years," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu asserted that she will go down in the history as a real revolutionary leader as she lived and breathed for the people of her state, adding that she will forever live in the hearts of her people.

 

Remembering Jayalalithaa as an able administrator who had conviction and courage, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu told ANI here that 'Amma' became a household name in Tamil Nadu because of her pro-poor, pro-people initiatives.

"I personally consider that she has brought a revolution in politics coming from an ordinary background, fighting against all odds by political rivals and her own party. She always thought about the interest of Tamil Nadu," Naidu said.

Meanwhile, the Central Government declared one-day mourning after the demise of five-time chief minister Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu government has declared a seven-day state mourning has been declared and a three-day holiday has also been announced for educational institutions, while the neighbouring union territory of Puducherry has also announced a holiday for all government offices and educational institutions today as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.

Also, Kerala Government has declared a holiday for all government offices and educational institutions in the state and Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Bihar have also declared a one-day state mourning as a mark of respect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will pay floral tributes at Rajaji Hall in Chennai, where her body has been kept.

Amma will be cremated with full state honours at Marina Beach here today at 4:30 pm, which will be attended by the nation's political top brass.