New Delhi: In a touching move, the Tamil Nadu government has declared December 6 as a public holiday as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa, who passed away at the age of 68 at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on Monday night.


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Fondly known as Amma among her followers, Jayalalithaa breathed her last at 11.30 pm after suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday.


The news was confirmed by ANI news agency on Twitter.



Jayalalithaa’s body was brought to her residence, Poes Garden past midnight, from where it was taken to Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their last respects.


Thousands of fans and supporters had gathered outside the hospital as well as outside her residence to get a last glimpse of their departed leader.


The state government has announced seven days of mourning, with educational institutions set to be closed for three days.


Soon after Jayalalithaa's death, the AIADMK legislators elected Finance Minister and long-time Jayalalithaa loyalist O. Panneerselvam to succeed the departed leader.


Shortly after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Panneerselvam took the oath of office and secrecy. Thirty-one ministers were also sworn-in with him.