Jayalalitha’s entry into politics was facilitated by her close companionship with M.G.Ramachandran, the late film star, leader of the AIADMK party and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.Jayalalitha became Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha from 1984 and kept the seat until her election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1989 from the Bodinayakkanur constituency. She became the first Woman Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalitha contested from both Bargur and Kangeyam constituencies during the general elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1991 and won in both places but subsequently resigned the Kangeyam Assembly seat.

Jayalalitha was elected from Andipatti Assembly constituency in February 2002.

Jayalalitha’s present tenure is her third term as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She was Chief Minister from 24-06-1991 to 12-05-1996, from 14-05-2001 to 21-09-2001and from 02-03-2002.

The vicissitudes of political life was brought home sharply to Jayalalitha when she suffered a crushing defeat in the April-May 1996 elections amid charges of corruption and malfeasance. Her party won just four of the 234 seats.

However, Jayalalitha bounced back to power in the 2001 elections.