Maharashtra assembly pays homage to Jayalalithaa

Both ruling and opposition parties paid their last respects to the 68-year-old AIADMK leader who died of cardiac arrest last night

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday led the state in paying homage to the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who died on Monday night.

"In the demise of AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa, we have lost an important woman leader who had an impact on national politics," Fadnavis said in his condolence message.

"She was showered with immense love, affection and support by the people of Tamil Nadu which very few leaders get. She took decisive steps for the welfare of the people," Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister said Jayalalithaa's death was a great loss to the country.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar said he was deeply saddened by the death of Jayalalithaa.

"She'll always be remembered as 'Peoples Amma' whom except death, nothing could dissuade from serving the weaker and poor," Pawar said.

Congress Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also mourned the leader's death.

"My deepest condolences on the demise of the towering leader of India," Vikhe-Patil said.

NCP Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde said he was "deeply saddened by the demise of Jayalalithaa".

The 68-year-old leader, among the tallest leaders of Tamil Nadu, died at 11.30 pm on Monday night after suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday.