PoliticsDMK-AIADMK alternation

Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time

· Chennai

Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time
Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

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.

The tenth Tamil Nadu assembly election was held on 15 June 1991, weeks after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The AIADMK-Congress alliance won an overwhelming majority, while the DMK won only two seats. J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister on 24 June 1991, the youngest person to hold the office at the time. She was also the first woman to complete a full term as Chief Minister of the state.

Related events

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 1989

    1. Nov 1989ChennaiPolitics

      Congress-AIADMK alliance wins 38 of 39 Lok Sabha seats

      Months after losing the state election, the reunited AIADMK and its ally the Congress won 38 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.

    2. Jan 1989 to 30 Jan 1991ChennaiPolitics

      DMK returns to power, Karunanidhi Chief Minister again

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

  4. 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.

  5. 2001

    1. 14 May 2001ChennaiPolitics

      AIADMK alliance wins the 2001 Assembly election

      The AIADMK-led alliance defeated the DMK government and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time.

Open in the timeline explorer