Jayalalithaa assumes office for second time on same date

CHENNAI: In a coincidence, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa today took oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the second time in a span of one year on the same day - May 23.

Jayalalithaa had assumed office on May 23, 2015, exactly a year ago, as Chief Minister for the fifth time of the state then following her acquittal in a disproportionate assets case by the Karnataka High Court.

Exactly after a year, the 68-year-old leader was once again sworn-in as Chief Minister, this time after leading her party to a successive term in about three decades.

Breaking a political jinx, AIADMK had retained power in Tamil Nadu, a feat achieved by the same party in 1984.

Tamil Nadu voters rarely give a successive mandate for a particular party to lead the government and AIADMK and DMK have been alternatively coming to power for long.

AIADMK won 134 seats in the May 16 Assembly polls, paving the way for Jayalalithaa continuing in office.