She fought against all odds to become a people’s leader

The lasting image of J Jayalalithaa is of a woman who fought against great odds and established herself as a mass leader in Tamil Nadu.

Great odds because she did not belong to any political family or dynasty. In that sense, she was an outsider who had to fight for her political position both during MGR’s lifetime — even when MGR was her mentor — and afterwards.

I came to know her when I was the general secretary of the CPI(M) between 2008 and 2014. That was the period when our party had an understanding with the AIADMK for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. She used to always say, “I am the general secretary of an ‘All India’ party. Therefore, I will only talk to my counterpart in other parties.”

We would sit together and reach at a broad understanding and then the state-level leaders from both sides would sit and finalise the seat-sharing arrangements. I met her not only for polls but to also exchanges views and invite her for joining programmes.

She was a highly intelligent politician. In the same time very strong-willed. For us, it had its positives and negatives. She had clear views and would stick to them. This made it very easy to talk to her. We knew what she stood for and what she will not do. Unlike the runof-the-mill politicians, she was never hesitant to speak her mind even if it was an unpopular stand to take.

She also had a sense of humour and pass comments about other political leaders.

We were of the same age. She and I passed out of school in the same year. After that, I knew her as a filmstar. We have seen how she evolved as an unquestioned mass leader. Sometimes, she spoke about her past and how she established herself.

In her term as a CM between 2011 and 2016, she brought in a lot of social welfare measures. She was very proud of her ‘Amma canteens’ and once gave me a long lecture on how it works and how many cities or towns in serves healthy food to urban poor.

People will also remember for giving 20 kg rice, which she called “priceless rice”. Priceless, because it was free. It was no gimmick.

We used to meet at her home when she was in opposition. But when she was in power, we met at the Secretariat.

I met her last in 2014. I sought an appointment. She asked me to come at a certain time. It got postponed by half an hour but we met. At the end of our talks, she said, “I was unwell and thought of cancelling our meeting. But then I thought you will be annoyed. So I decided to come Now after I talked to you I feel better ”

I am the general secretary of an ‘All India’ party. Therefore, I will only talk to my counterpart in other parties. J JAYALALITHAA, Late CM of Tamil Nadu