Jayalalithaa Lost the 1996 TN Election Because of Me: Rajinikanth

“Despite the pressure from a patriarchal society, Jayalalithaa shone like a diamond”, Rajinikanth said.

Actor Rajinikanth paying his last respects to AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa, at Rajaji Hall in Chennai on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI) 

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth said, on Sunday, that former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa had lost the state election of 1996 because of him, Times of India reported.

Speaking at a condolence meeting for the late AIADMK supremo that was organised by the Nadir Sangam, the actor said that a speech he had delivered in 1996 against the AIADMK had cost their eventual defeat.

During the campaign phase of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections the superstar was famously quoted as saying, “ If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even God cannot save Tamil Nadu.” At the condolence meet, on Sunday, Rajinikanth softened and said “She was distressed because of my words. I was one of the main reasons why she lost in 1996.”

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But describing the charismatic leader of Tamil Nadu as a “kohinoor diamond”, the Kabali actor said that Jayalalithaa had surprised him by accepting the invitation to his daughter’s wedding despite the troubled relationship they shared.

She told me that she would come for the wedding even if there was another marriage ceremony of a party functionary. This lady with a golden heart is no more among us.

He also lauded the Amma of Tamil Nadu for standing strong against the patriarchal society.

She was like a diamond. Despite the pressure from a patriarchal society, she shone like one (diamond) and now she rests, like a Kohinoor diamond, besides Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s memorial.

(Source: Times of India)