PoliticsDMK-AIADMK alternation
AIADMK alliance wins the 2001 Assembly election
· Chennai

The AIADMK-led alliance defeated the DMK government and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time.
The AIADMK and its allies won a clear majority in the 2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, ending M. Karunanidhi's 1996-2001 term. J. Jayalalithaa had been barred from contesting because of her conviction in a corruption case, but she was sworn in as Chief Minister after the result. Her appointment was challenged in the Supreme Court on the ground that a convicted person who could not contest could not be appointed. The election began a further phase of alternation between the two main Dravidian parties.