J Jayalalithaa, yesteryear actress and one of India’s most prominent political leaders, passed away yesterday night after a long bout with illness.

“It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu at 11.30pm Monday,” Chennai’s Apollo Hospital said in a statement.

To the millions of her well-wishers, the chief minister was known simply as ‘Amma’ (mother).

Her political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, wrote on Twitter: “Our beloved leader, the Iron lady of India...Amma, is no more.”

The 68-year-old’s body, which was taken to her residence at Poes Garden, will be moved to Rajaji Hall later today. The ruling government has announced a seven-day mourning period.

Hundreds of devotees had kept a round-the-clock vigil outside the hospital since she was first admitted in September suffering from a fever. Earlier on Monday, some TV channels reported that Jayalalithaa had passed away and it led to some unrest.

Jayalalithaa’s trusted man, O Panneerselvam, has been sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s new chief minister. The AIADMK is comfortably placed with 134 seats in the 235-member assembly.

Security has been beefed up around the state as there are fears of chaos from the angry and emotional followers. She earned her followers’ loyalty after opening populist schemes like ‘Amma canteens’ which provided food at very low prices.