Jayalalithaa's Tamil identity was rooted in Srirangam

TRICHY: J Jayalalithaa had a family connection with Srirangam. She said her grandparents on her mother's side as well as father's side were residents of Srirangam and had relocated to Karnataka. She had once stated that Srirangam was her native place and she was attached to the place. With roots in Srirangam, she said she could call herself a Tamil woman, fiercely proud of her Tamil ethnicity.

During her early days when she was acting in Kannada films, a mob demanded that she declare herself a Kannadiga. But even at that time, she boldly declared that she was a Tamil, according to the book, “Amma: Jayalalithaa's journey from movie star to political queen“, written by Vaasanthi.

From 1971 to 2006, from the time M G Ramachandran launched the AIADMK, except in 1989 and 1996, Srirangam sent only AIADMK candidates to the assembly. The highest percentage the party scored was 70.6%. This was in 1991 when there was a wave for Jayalalithaa.


“She did a lot for the upliftment of women community through the social welfare department. No one can overtake her.From the first time I saw her during the 2011election, I couldn't forget his smiling face“, said L Suseela, resident of Sethurapatti village in Srirangam segment.