India's filmstar politician dies after prolonged illness: hospital
Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the chief minister of south India's Tamil Nadu state passes away
CHENNAI (AFP) - Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the chief minister of south India s Tamil Nadu state and one of the country s most popular political leaders, died after a prolonged illness, hospital authorities announced late Monday night.
"It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu ... at 11:30pm (local time) today (December 5)," Chennai s Apollo Hospital said in a statement released to the media.
Doctors had been treating the 68-year-old former film star, who enjoys an almost god-like status in Tamil Nadu.
Hundreds of devotees have kept a round-the-clock vigil outside the private hospital in the state capital Chennai since she was first admitted in September suffering from a fever. Their numbers have swelled since her condition worsened on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences over her demise.
"I will always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaa ji (honorific). May her soul rest in peace," Modi said on Twitter.
Her political party, AIADMK, on Twitter said: "our beloved leader, the Iron lady of India...Amma, is no more."
To millions of her followers, the chief minister was known simply as "Amma"(mother).
