It was yet another historic day for Tamil Nadu politics as AIADMK chief, J Jayalalitha was finally acquitted of all charges in the 19-year-old case of disproportionate assets on Monday, May 11. Justice C R Kumarasamy announced the verdict in just 10 seconds ensuring her magnificent comeback to the political scenario. A brief look at the turn of events in the life of former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalitha:

The yesteryear actress

Jayalalitha started her film career as a 'hesitant' teen starlet in CV Sridhar-directed 'Vennira Aadai,' in 1956. She then rose in ranks as a popular heroine, pairing opposite then matinee idol MG Ramachandran (MGR). They did nearly 30 films together, and soon, their on-screen bond stretched to politics with Jayalalithaa becoming the former Chief Minister's protege after he founded AIADMK.

She started off as Propaganda Secretary to the party. She impressed Ramachandran, especially with her English language skills, and soon earned a ticket to Rajya Sabha, and with that, got a strong foothold in politics.

Tamil superstar MGR with Jayalalitha in a film poster | Source : Reshareit

Foray into politics

Jayalalithaa had split the party after being humiliated during Ramachandran's funeral procession. But she later united the different factions following an ugly incident involving her party's arch rival DMK in the state Assembly, when she was allegedly insulted on the floor of the House. She was Opposition Leader then.

In 1991, she stitched up an alliance with Congress and a sympathy wave spurred by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi landed her party a landslide victory, with Jayalalithaa making her debut as Chief Minister. However, the same period turned out to be her undoing with her aide Sasikala's family allegedly calling the shots in all aspects of government. The extravaganza publicly displayed during the marriage of her foster son V N Sudhakaran (now disowned) attracted strong criticism.

Jayalalitha with MGR during an election campaign | Source : Admkpasarai.blogspot