Tamil Nadu Timeline

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DMK returns to power, Karunanidhi Chief Minister again

· Chennai

DMK returns to power, Karunanidhi Chief Minister again
Government of Tamil Nadu, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

After 13 years in opposition, the DMK won the January 1989 assembly election and M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the third time.

The ninth Tamil Nadu assembly election was held on 21 January 1989, after a year of President's rule. The AIADMK contested as two rival factions led by J. Jayalalithaa and V. N. Janaki, and the Congress contested separately. The DMK won a majority, ending its 13 years out of power, and M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the third time. Jayalalithaa became the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, and the AIADMK factions reunited under her in February 1989.

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    1. 30 Jun 1977ChennaiPolitics

      AIADMK wins assembly election, M. G. Ramachandran becomes Chief Minister

      The AIADMK-led alliance won the 1977 assembly election and M. G. Ramachandran was sworn in as Chief Minister.

  2. 1980

    1. 9 Jun 1980ChennaiPolitics

      AIADMK re-elected, MGR sworn in for second term

      Months after the DMK and Congress swept the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK won the May 1980 assembly election, bringing MGR back as Chief Minister.

  3. 1988

    1. 7 Jan 1988 to Jan 1989ChennaiPolitics

      Janaki Ramachandran ministry and President's rule

      V. N. Janaki became Tamil Nadu's first woman Chief Minister, but her ministry was dismissed within weeks and President's rule followed.

  4. 1989

    1. 9 Feb 1989ChennaiPolitics

      AIADMK factions merge under Jayalalithaa

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

  5. 1991

    1. 24 Jun 1991 to 12 May 1996ChennaiPolitics

      Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time

      The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the June 1991 election and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister, the youngest in the state's history at the time.

  6. 1996

    1. May 1996 to May 2001ChennaiPolitics

      DMK-TMC alliance wins 1996 election

      The DMK-TMC alliance won 221 of 234 assembly seats and all 39 Lok Sabha seats; M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fourth time.

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