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WATCH: Overawed Men Fall At Jayalalithaa's Feet To Congratulate Her

WATCH: Overawed Men Fall At Jayalalithaa's Feet To Congratulate Her
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Front page editor, HuffPost India

A party cadre prostrates himself at the feet of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram as she gestures at her residence in Chennai on May 19, 2016.The makeup of India's next government could lie in the hands of a trio of women who command a massive following in their regional heartlands, including a populist former movie star known as 'Mother' to supporters. / AFP / ARUN SANKAR (Photo credit should read ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
ARUN SANKAR via Getty Images
A party cadre prostrates himself at the feet of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram as she gestures at her residence in Chennai on May 19, 2016.The makeup of India's next government could lie in the hands of a trio of women who command a massive following in their regional heartlands, including a populist former movie star known as 'Mother' to supporters. / AFP / ARUN SANKAR (Photo credit should read ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa returned to power for a second time on Thursday, ecstatic AIADMK supporters took to the streets, beating drums, breaking into dance and song and chanting her name to celebrate their love for 'Amma'. At her residence, meanwhile, men queued up to congratulate her and present her with bouquets of red roses.

The sycophancy of Amma fans is well known -- one even got himself nailed to a cross to express his undying devotion to Jayalalithaa. The power she holds over her supporters was in plain sight today as grown men tripped over themselves to present flowers to her, touch her feet and get her blessings as a posse of mediapersons captured the moment.

A couple of them even prostrated themselves at her feet.

Take a look.

WATCH: Jayalalithaa's supporters congratulate her on victory in Tamil Nadu Assembly #Election2016https://t.co/SkFaYSxZ7t

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2016

Jayalalithaa bucked a tradition in the state today by winning a second term while in power.

The 68-year-old leader is also known as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' or the Revolutionary Leader, and is revered as a mother in the state, despite allegations of corruption.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.