From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 07:33 AM IST

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalitha was unanimously elected general secretary of the AIADMK for a record sixth term here Wednesday as her supporters welcomed the announcement by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

Speaking to journalists after being elected, Jayalalitha felt there was no immediate need to move a motion of no-confidence against the DMK government.

'While I may look at the possibility later, personally I feel that there is no need to do so since this government has already lost the confidence of the people,' Jayalalitha said.

She indicated that the AIADMK would cooperate with the rest of the opposition.

'My party would cooperate with other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu to expose the misdeeds of this anti-people minority regime.'

The Avvai Shanmugham Salai (erstwhile Lloyd's Road), where the AIADMK party office is situated, was a sea of Jayalaitha supporters, who hailed her victory as a precursor to her future re-election as the chief minister. They rejoiced by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

Jaya's victory was a foregone conclusion as hundreds of her followers filed nominations on her behalf during the run-up to Wednesday's elections. There were no challengers in the fray.

Jayalalitha was elected general secretary of a faction of the AIADMK for the first time in 1987 after the demise of her mentor-leader M.G. Ramachandran (MGR).

Subsequently, after the two factions of the party merged in 1989, she was re-elected general secretary and has remained so ever since.

Her innings in the state legislative assembly began in 1989 as leader of opposition. But she quit soon after an assault on her on the floor of the house, vowing to return only as chief minister.

Riding on the crest of a sympathy wave following the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, Jayalalitha won a landslide victory for her party, which had 225 legislators out of the total strength of 235 members.

Jayalalitha, however, lost power during the following general elections in the state in 1996, but returned to power in 2001. She is currently the leader of opposition since the 2006 general elections.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)