Jaya to Mufti Sayeed: The 17 leaders who died as chief ministers

In her death too, J Jayalalithaa touched another common chord with her mentor, MG Ramachandran. Both chief ministers passed away while in office. As she breathed her last in Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on Monday, Jayalalithaa became the third CM from her state to die while in power.

In her death too, J Jayalalithaa touched another common chord with her mentor, MG Ramachandran. Both chief ministers passed away while in office. As she breathed her last in Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on Monday, Jayalalithaa became the third CM from her state to die while in power. Both MGR and his mentor CN Annadurai, who formed the DMK, died in the same situation. After MGR passed away, there was a fierce tussle within the AIADMK over his legacy. MGR’s wife, Janaki Ramachandran, succeeded him and became chief minister.

An AIADMK supporters show a photo of Jayalalithaa and her mentor MGR -- both of them died while in office --- in Chennai on December 07. (Vanne Srinivasulu /HT Photo)