Only a few leaders could approach her and negotiate on political issues.
Former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat was one of them. One of the pivotal forces of the non-Congress, non-BJP political camp, Karat maintained a good rapport with her.
The Left, with its disproportionate importance and clout in Tamil Nadu, still managed to forge a pact with her party, AIADMK, for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. But in 2011, Jayalalithaa snapped the ties at the last moment.
As the Left prepared to put up a solo fight, a politburo member told this correspondent, “We are fighting for the sake of fighting. We don’t see much chance without (the) AIADMK in Tamil Nadu polls.”
In 2016, she offered just one seat each to CPI(M) and the CPI—a condition unacceptable to both parties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also enjoyed excellent relations with Jayalalithaa. She was the first CM to welcome the BJP’s announcement of Modi as its PM candidate. Modi reciprocated and went to Chennai to attend her swearing in ceremony this year.
When the Modi government was racing against time to push through the 122nd Constitutional amendment bill to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Jayalalithaa came to his rescue. Modi’s trusted lieutenant, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu went to Chennai to plead with Amma. And she obliged.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
