'Shining star' Jayalalithaa will always be remembered for her good work: Congress

Expressing anguish over the demise of Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, the Congress Party on Tuesday said the former was a shining star and will always be remembered for the good work done for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "India has lost one of its shining stars and it is most unfortunate. It was an untimely death. She made her mark both as an artist and a politician. She was a most soft spoken politician in the country and yet she was a great administrator and famous for her poverty elevation programs."

Azad further said that Jayalalithaa will always be always remembered for her good works she had done for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Expressing similar sentiments, another Congress leader Manishankar Aiyyar said Jayalalithaa was an amazing leader, adding that nobody can replace her.

He further said that Jayalalithaa knew about the necessary steps to be taken and did so with full confidence.

"The condition we saw of the Congress party in 1964, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru died. At that time, one couldn't figure out who will lead. But, because the roots were strong, so the Congress after consulting, found Lal Bahadur Shastri, and after one and half years, they found Indira Gandhi. So, like that only, the AIADMK will find someone and the party will be stay. But there is no doubt that the way Jayalalitha attracted the people of Tamil Nadu, any AIADMK leader can't create a miracle like that," Aiyyar added.

"O. Panneerselvam can take the advantage of coming four-and- a- half years to keep the party strong by keeping in the mind the last assembly elections where Jayalalitaa won." he said.

Another Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said, "A huge void has come not only in the politics of Tamil Nadu but also in the world. Her efficiency, recognition in the world can't be forgotten. When I was the planning minister, she used to be under the planning commission and the discussion used to happen for two to two and a half hours."

He said that Jayalalithaa was concerned about the problems of every state and took less help from the officers.

"Otherwise, the chief ministers make their officers answers about everything to the state. But she had good hold of administration which only a few have. Her career in Hindi Movies was very good. She had a national vision even after staying the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," he added.

Jayalalithaa will be cremated with full state honours at Chennai's Marina Beach today at 4:30 p.m.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will pay their respects at Rajaji Hall, where her body has been kept in state.

Amma's loyalist O Panneerselvam was sworn in as the state's 21st Chief Minister at a sombre ceremony at the Raj Bhawan along with all ministers of the erstwhile cabinet last night.

Meanwhile, a seven-day state mourning has been declared from this morning to mourn the death of the beloved six-time chief minister and a three-day holiday has also been announced for educational institutions in the state. The Centre has declared a day of national mourning today.

The neighbouring union territory of Puducherry has also announced a holiday for all government offices and educational institutions today as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa.

Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Bihar have also declared a one-day state mourning as a mark of respect.