J. Jayalalithaa
76 events, 1987 to 2017; 7 marked as turning points.
1987
Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran died in office in Madras; he was buried at Marina Beach next to the Anna memorial.
1988
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.
1989
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.
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.
Clash in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on budget day
DMK and AIADMK members clashed in the Assembly as Karunanidhi rose to present the budget; Jayalalithaa left vowing to return only as Chief Minister.
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.
1991
Congress-AIADMK alliance sweeps all 39 Lok Sabha seats
In the election during which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sriperumbudur, the Congress-AIADMK alliance won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.
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.
1992
Cradle Baby Scheme launched against female infanticide
The Jayalalithaa government introduced the Cradle Baby Scheme, allowing parents to leave unwanted infant girls with the state anonymously.
All-women police stations set up
The Jayalalithaa government opened police stations run entirely by women to handle complaints from women, starting in Chennai.
Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme
The state began depositing money in the names of girl children in poor families to counter gender discrimination and keep girls in school.
Mahamaham stampede at Kumbakonam
A stampede at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam during the 12-yearly festival killed 48 pilgrims.
1993
Jayalalithaa fasts on the Marina over Cauvery water
Seeking Cauvery water from Karnataka for the kuruvai crop, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa went on a fast of about 80 hours beside the MGR memorial.
1994
Construction Workers Welfare Board established
Using its 1982 Manual Workers Act, Tamil Nadu created a construction workers' welfare board financed by a cess on building activity.
69% reservation Act placed in the Ninth Schedule
Through the 76th Amendment, the Constitution's Ninth Schedule came to include Tamil Nadu's 1993 law that kept reservation at 69%.
1995
Eighth World Tamil Conference held in Thanjavur
The eighth World Tamil Conference was hosted in Thanjavur by the Tamil Nadu government.
Wedding of Jayalalithaa's foster son Sudhakaran
More than 150,000 people watched the extravagant Madras wedding of V. N. Sudhakaran, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's foster son, an event later drawn into corruption cases.
Madras hosts the 7th South Asian Games
The 7th South Asian Federation Games were held in Madras, with the rebuilt Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the main venue; India topped the medal table.
1996
Rajinikanth backs the DMK-TMC alliance
Staying out of politics himself, Rajinikanth warned that 'even God cannot save' Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa's party won again, and endorsed the DMK-TMC alliance.
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.
Jayalalithaa arrested in colour TV case
Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in a corruption case over the purchase of colour televisions.
1998
AIADMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 30 seats in Tamil Nadu
Breaking its long alliance with the Congress, the AIADMK joined the BJP-led front, which won 30 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
1999
AIADMK withdraws support, Vajpayee government falls
The AIADMK's withdrawal of support led to the Vajpayee government losing a confidence vote by a single vote.
Jaya TV, a Tamil satellite channel founded by AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, was launched in Chennai.
DMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 26 seats in Tamil Nadu
With the AIADMK out of the NDA, the DMK allied with the BJP for the first time and the NDA won 26 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
2000
Pleasant Stay verdict and the Dharmapuri bus burning
Jayalalithaa was sentenced to a year's imprisonment in the Pleasant Stay hotel case; in the violence that followed, three agricultural students were burnt to death in a bus at Dharmapuri.
Jayalalithaa convicted in the TANSI land case
A trial court convicted Jayalalithaa and Sasikala over the purchase of state TANSI land by their firms in 1992, a verdict that barred her from the 2001 election.
2001
Free bicycles for higher secondary students
Free bicycles for higher secondary students were introduced by the Jayalalithaa government, and the scheme later reached every Class 11 student.
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.
Midnight arrest of M. Karunanidhi
Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was arrested at his Chennai home in the early hours in a case over the construction of city flyovers.
Supreme Court unseats Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam becomes Chief Minister
After the Supreme Court held Jayalalithaa's appointment invalid, O. Panneerselvam served as Chief Minister until she returned in March 2002.
2002
Annadhanam free meal scheme in temples
Jayalalithaa launched free daily meals for devotees in 63 temples, funded by endowments from donors; it was later expanded to hundreds of temples.
Jayalalithaa returns as Chief Minister after Andipatti by-election
After her acquittal in the TANSI and Pleasant Stay cases, J. Jayalalithaa won the Andipatti by-election and was sworn in again as Chief Minister.
Tamil Nadu anti-conversion law
The AIADMK government introduced a law against forcible religious conversion, which was withdrawn after the 2004 Lok Sabha election and formally repealed in 2006.
Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus opens at Koyambedu
The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus at Koyambedu was opened to the public, becoming the city's main hub for long-distance buses.
2003
Tamil Nadu bans the sale of lotteries
The Jayalalithaa government banned the sale of all lotteries in Tamil Nadu, including those run by agencies from other states.
Mass dismissal of striking government employees under TESMA
The state dismissed between about 170,000 and 200,000 striking government employees and teachers under its Essential Services Maintenance Act.
Rainwater harvesting made mandatory for all buildings
After severe drought, a 2003 ordinance required every building in Tamil Nadu to install rainwater harvesting structures by 31 August.
Jayalalithaa assets case transferred to Bangalore
On a DMK petition, the Supreme Court moved the disproportionate assets trial of J. Jayalalithaa from Chennai to a special court in Bangalore.
2004
New Veeranam water supply project completed
A project to pipe water from Veeranam Lake to Chennai, first conceived in 1967, was completed during a severe water shortage.
DMK-led alliance wins all 39 Lok Sabha seats
The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance with the Congress and Left won every Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; the AIADMK-BJP alliance won none.
Arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya
Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi math was arrested in the Sankararaman murder case; he and the other accused were acquitted in 2013.
2006
DMK forms a minority government
M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fifth time, heading a DMK government that depended on outside support from the Congress.
2008
Tamil New Year moved to the first day of Thai
A DMK government law moved Tamil New Year to the first day of the Tamil month of Thai; the change was revoked in 2011.
Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project
A Cauvery-based drinking water scheme for Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts was begun in 2008 amid objections from Karnataka and launched in 2013.
2009
DMK-Congress alliance wins 27 of 39 Lok Sabha seats
Against expectations, the DMK, Congress and VCK won 27 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats, helping the UPA return to power.
2010
Samacheer Kalvi: uniform school education
Tamil Nadu introduced a common syllabus across state, matriculation and other school boards; the Supreme Court upheld it in 2011.
Anna Centenary Library opens in Kotturpuram
A large public library named after C. N. Annadurai opened in Chennai on his birth anniversary.
2011
Free mixers, grinders, fans and livestock
The new AIADMK government began giving households free mixers, grinders and fans, and goats and cows to poor families.
India protests Sri Lankan Navy attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen
India formally protested to Sri Lanka over alleged Sri Lankan Navy attacks on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.
AIADMK returns to power in 2011
The AIADMK alliance won a large majority and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister for the third time; the DMDK became the main opposition.
Free rice for ration card holders
In her first public event of the new term, Jayalalithaa launched free rice for eligible ration card holders under the universal PDS.
Marriage assistance with gold for the thirumangalyam
Jayalalithaa revised the marriage assistance schemes to add 4 grams of gold for the thirumangalyam and raised aid for graduates to Rs. 50,000.
Chief Minister's Uzhavar Pathukappu Thittam
A farmers' security scheme gave registered landless labourers, small farmers and tenants cash help for education, marriage, death and old age.
Free laptop scheme for students
Students at government and aided schools and colleges started receiving free laptops from the AIADMK government.
2012
Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme
Jayalalithaa launched a state health insurance scheme for 1.34 crore families, replacing the earlier Kalaignar insurance scheme.
Pension scheme for destitute transgender persons
Jayalalithaa announced a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for transgender persons above 40 living in poverty.
2013
Amma Unavagam subsidised canteens open
The Chennai Corporation opened low-cost canteens selling idli for one rupee, later expanded across the state.
The state began selling one-litre bottles of drinking water for Rs. 10 at bus termini and on long-distance government buses.
India's Prime Minister skips CHOGM in Colombo after Tamil Nadu pressure
After a unanimous Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stayed away from the Commonwealth summit in Colombo.
2014
Tamil Nadu parties oppose Rajapaksa's invitation to Modi's swearing-in
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's attendance at Narendra Modi's swearing-in drew opposition from parties across Tamil Nadu.
Jayalalithaa opened the first ten 'Amma' pharmacies to sell quality medicines at fair prices.
The Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation began selling low-priced iodised and fortified salt under the 'Amma' brand.
Chennai Outer Ring Road phase I opens
The first phase of the Chennai Outer Ring Road, built to divert traffic around the city, was opened to the public.
Jayalalithaa convicted in disproportionate assets case
A Bengaluru special court convicted Jayalalithaa, forcing her to resign; the Karnataka High Court acquitted her in 2015 and she returned as Chief Minister.
2015
Jayalalithaa announced low-cost comprehensive health check-ups in government hospitals and twice-weekly tests at primary health centres.
Amma Cement sold at half the market price
The state began selling low-priced 'Amma' cement at Rs. 190 a bag through Civil Supplies Corporation godowns, starting in Tiruchi.
Jayalalithaa acquitted on appeal and returns as Chief Minister
Acquitted in the assets case by the Karnataka High Court, J. Jayalalithaa took the oath as Chief Minister for a fifth time.
The first stretch of Chennai Metro, between Koyambedu and Alandur, opened to passengers.
First Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet
The state held its first Global Investors Meet at the Chennai Trade Centre, signing more than 100 investment MoUs.
Amma Baby Care Kit for newborns
Mothers delivering in government hospitals began receiving a free kit of 16 baby care items worth about Rs. 1,000.
2016
Free bus rides for senior citizens in Chennai
Senior citizens in Chennai were allowed ten free rides a month on ordinary city buses, using tokens issued by the transport corporation.
Crop loan waiver and 100 free units of household power
Back in power, Jayalalithaa cancelled the cooperative crop loans of 16.94 lakh farmers and made the first 100 units of household power free.
Winning a second term in a row, the AIADMK became the first party in power in Tamil Nadu to be returned to office since 1984.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa died at Apollo Hospital, Chennai, after a 75-day hospitalisation; O. Panneerselvam was sworn in the same night.
2017
Kodanad estate robbery and murder
A watchman was killed during a break-in at the Kodanad tea estate in the Nilgiris, a retreat used by J. Jayalalithaa.