Tamil Nadu Timeline

PoliticsDMK-AIADMK alternation

AIADMK factions merge under Jayalalithaa

· Chennai

AIADMK factions merge under Jayalalithaa
Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

The two AIADMK factions merged and accepted J. Jayalalithaa as general secretary; she became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

After M. G. Ramachandran's death the AIADMK split into factions led by his widow V. N. Janaki and by J. Jayalalithaa, and the split helped the DMK win the January 1989 election. Jayalalithaa was elected from Bodinayakkanur, and her faction won 27 seats, making her Leader of the Opposition. On 9 February 1989 the two factions merged, accepted Jayalalithaa as general secretary, and recovered the party's 'Two leaves' symbol. She was described as the first woman to become Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

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